Towards a Taxonomy of International Competitiveness

Abstract

Purpose: A wide range of approaches to defining, modelling, and measuring international competitiveness can be found in the scholarly literature across various fields of management and economics. Such number of perspectives enhances scientific research, but confuses public debate. Despite certain definitional ambiguities, there is a consensus that international competitiveness is a multi­ ­faceted concept that should be analysed at different levels of aggregation: company level (micro), industry/cluster level (mezzo) and national level (macro). This paper addresses international compe titiveness at all three levels and tracks the interlinkages between them with the aim to find a common ground for understanding this economic phenomenon in a systemic perspective: as a complex whole. Methodology: The paper constitutes an in­depth literature review, forming a basis for a new approach to categorizing the main perspectives on international competitiveness. A synthesis of the latest international competitiveness literature sources has been performed in order to categorize the existing approaches to defining, modelling, and measuring international competitiveness. Following Chandhuri’s and Ray’s (1997) two­dimensional classification approach (the level of analysis and the variable), the paper introduces new insights into the existing taxonomy of international competitiveness. Findings: Based upon the developed taxonomy, the paper offers an interdisciplinary, multi­layered model of international competitiveness. Originality: The offered findings enhance the active shaping of modern competitiveness research directions to support the competitiveness policy on the regional and national level.

Keywords

• international competitiveness
• micro/mezzo/macro competitiveness
• multi­layered model of competitiveness
• conceptual framework