Dimensions of Competitiveness: Issues and Policies

Competitiveness is one of the key themes in the current debate about national economic performance. A vast array of statistical data is usually assembled by national governments to demonstrate a closing or widening of productivity or trade ‘gaps’ with other countries or groups of countries. The authors of this book argue that far too little attention has been paid to the often subtle, but highly significant, organisational and cultural characteristics which underpin production and trade in a globalised economy. Dimensions of Competitiveness suggests that awareness of the impacts of this neglected dimension of competitiveness can, together with appropriate corrective action, significantly improve corporate and national performance. While considering a variety of more conventional dimensions of international competitiveness, the authors challenge many established tenets. A number of policy prescriptions are outlined as a result. Attention is also paid to some of the key distributive and infrastructural roles in enhancing international competitiveness including facilitating labour and capital mobility and providing efficient transport systems.