Effects of the energy and mining industry on management of national competitiveness

Abstract

This study examines relationships between progress in the energy and mining industry and competitiveness of selected countries. The focus of the study was determined by reviewing the expert literature on the topic, which showed that not many approaches appreciate the correlations between these two areas and pay closer attention to their historical relations. The study works with historical data on the energy and mining industry in selected countries and also data on the competitiveness of those countries. Correlations were examined using bivariate correlation analysis of respective time series. This research identified historically strong correlations, for instance, between electric power consumption, land area, or forest rent and indicators of national competitiveness. The results show that the influence of energy and mining industry on competitiveness over the last 40 years has increased, particularly in the case of countries with low or medium economic development, and it has decreased in developed countries. The resulting information about the intensity of the mutual relations might be useful for management of competitiveness and planning of strategic economic tools.

Keywords

• management
• national competitiveness
• indicators
• energy industry
• mining industry