What is economic competitiveness? Abstract: Competitiveness in the global economy

Competitiveness national economy- a very complex, multidimensional concept. Moreover, it does not have a generally accepted universal definition. The competitiveness of the national economy is understood as the concentrated expression of economic, scientific, technical, production, organizational, managerial, marketing and other opportunities, realized in goods and services that successfully compete with foreign goods and services competing with them, both in the domestic and foreign markets.

To determine competitiveness, more than 300 indicators and over 100 assessments of international expert economists are used.

Analysis data are grouped, as a rule, into 10 factors, namely:

1) economic potential and economic growth rates;
2) efficiency of industrial production;
3) the level of development of science and technology, the pace of development of scientific and technical achievements;
4) participation in the international division of labor;
5) dynamism and capacity of the domestic market;
6) flexibility of the financial system;
7) impact government regulation economics;
8) skill level labor resources;
9) provision of labor resources;
10) socio-economic and internal political situation.

The competitiveness of the national economy is Comparative characteristics, which contains comprehensive assessment state the most important indicators economy relative to external parameters, because of this, the competitiveness of the national economy is manifested in international competition.

In the development of the competitiveness of the national economies of a number of leading Western countries, striking changes occurred in the second half of the 20th century associated with industries that achieved success in the world market. Economic growth represents a movement toward more sophisticated sources of competitive advantage and stronger positions in high-performing segments and industries. This process is accompanied by a rapid increase in the efficiency of the entire economy. Some countries have shown amazing high rates growth, others have found it difficult to stay on the upward trajectory, and efficiency gains have slowed.

Although the main unit of analysis of the competitiveness of a country's economy is an industry or a group of related industries, essentially, economic growth is achieved by the simultaneous development of many different industries. Any national economy includes a wide range of industries that have various resources to improve their competitiveness.

The United States has been the undisputed, clear leader of the world economy since World War II. In the postwar years, American firms not only maintained the key positions they had won in many areas at the beginning of the 20th century, but also expanded the number of globally competitive industries due to their leadership in technology, workforce skills, and the quality of managers. No other country in the world has such a variety of competitive industries.

In the 1970s and 1980s, the country's economy approached the wealth-driven stage, contracting long term investment, competition has decreased. The United States has lost its advantages in a number of emerging industries as competition from the EU and Japan increases. However, thanks to the timely adoption of measures to rebuild the economy and modernize it, they were able to reverse the negative trends.

Currently, we can talk about the country’s return to the innovative stage of development, its leadership in the structural restructuring of the world economy, where the main component becomes fast development sphere of information technology, as well as in the significant influence of the American economic mechanism on the formation of a globalizing economy.

The United States is second to none in the world in terms of economic productivity, except in some industries where it is inferior to Japan. According to the microcompetitiveness index American companies occupy first place in the world. Companies such as IBM, Coca-Cola, Ford, General Electric, and Hewlett-Packard are known all over the world; their share is growing even in the markets of Japan and the EU.

Of course, after the war, unique conditions developed in the United States. But lack of competitors, quick transition military industry on peaceful tracks, an extensive domestic market and many other factors only partly explain the significant advance of all countries in the world in terms of GDP per capita.

Located in the USA a large number of basic factors (labor and natural resources, significant capital). But the United States achieved its power largely due to investments in mechanisms for creating and improving the quality of factors, mainly in education and R&D in promising industries. Thanks to this, the United States has taken leading positions in many areas of science and technology.

Japan. In recent decades, Japan has become a strong world power with a competitive economy. Japan supplies the world market with products from a wide range of industries, primarily high-tech ones: electronics, biotechnology, robotics, as well as mechanical engineering, metallurgy and transport. In a number of industries, the share of Japanese companies in world exports is very high and is comparable only to the positions of US companies.

Like Germany, Japan transformed itself from a war-defeated country into a world economic power, but unlike Germany it did not have natural resources, and historically such important industries as chemistry and mechanical engineering were not developed. The unusually successful and rapid development of the country from the factor to the innovation stage of competitiveness is due to many reasons, including the production of high-quality products at low costs, the specifics of labor relations, and the rapid introduction of new technologies.

In no other country has the entire “diamond” system worked so harmoniously, nor have any determinants contributed so much to strengthening others.

After World War II, government cooperation with industrialists, work ethic, application high technology and relatively low defense spending (1% of GDP) helped Japan become an industrialized country. The two main driving factors for post-war economy Japan began to have close relationships between manufacturers, suppliers and distributors, and a guarantee of lifelong employment for a large part of the urban population. Both of these drivers are now being undermined by intense competition from global markets and domestic demographic change. Japan's industrial sector is heavily dependent on imported raw materials, supplies and fuel. Industrial areas: Tokyo-Yokohama, Osaka-Kobe and Nagoya, which account for more than 50% of manufacturing income; Kitakyushu in the north of the island. Kyushu. The most industrially backward are Hokkaido, northern Honshu and southern Kyushu, where ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy is developed.

The main structural factor is science and education, so they are given Special attention. According to state program development national system Research and development (R&D) has undergone a transition from importing technical advances to developing its own R&D system. Drastic measures have been taken to improve personnel training and further develop international scientific cooperation. Large scientific centers were created, engaged in developments in the field of solid state physics, nuclear energy, plasma physics, the latest structural materials, space robots, etc. The leaders of the world economy include such Japanese companies as Toyota Motors, Matsushita Electric, Sony Corporation, Honda Motors, Toshiba, Fujitsu, etc. Medium and small businesses operate effectively in all areas. It is the most active and most stable element of the market in developing competition and increasing the competitiveness of goods. Almost 99% of Japanese companies are small and medium-sized businesses. Their role is especially great in the automotive, electronics and electrical industries.

Great Britain. The UK is a unique example of a country that, after being in a wealth-driven stage for a long time, was able to return to an innovative stage of development.

The historically strong position of Great Britain (the first industrial country in the world and the main world power in the 19th century) was undermined already at the beginning of the 20th century, when conditions began to slow down in economic development and loss of competitive advantages, which appeared after the Second World War. Economic recovery after World War II took almost forty years. In addition to internal resources, the restoration process was spurred by Great Britain's entry into European Community in 1973, which contributed to the rise in the country's competitiveness. America.

Despite the large reserves of accumulated wealth, by the 1970s. in the majority modern industries Great Britain lost ground to the USA, Japan, Germany and France, which affected its place in world GDP, trade and international currency relations. The decrease in competitive advantages occurred due to the country’s long stay at the stage driven by wealth, when unfavorable factors grew in all components of the “diamond” and some negative processes caused others. The most important were the low quality of labor resources, lack of competition, declining demand and business culture.

After the Conservative government came to power, the country managed to reverse the negative trends in the economy that had been growing for many years and implement global changes in business culture, contributing to the revival of its competitive advantages. The UK is currently undergoing a transition to an economy based on the latest technologies and services.

Great Britain today is a country with a highly developed, strong and independent economy.

Russia. Russia's competitiveness relative to other developed countries remains low. Currently, Russia is in 20th place in the world in exports, and in the early 1990s. The USSR took 10th place. The crisis in the country's economy and the reduction in the production of the most promising products led to the fact that Russia's competitiveness on the world market compared to the USSR decreased and was reduced to a narrow range of industries. In terms of labor productivity in the manufacturing industry, Russia is 5-6 times inferior to developed countries. It occurred mainly due to an increase in the utilization of old equipment by the production of obsolete products based on undervalued exchange rates national currency and the cost of production factors.

Only a few industries produce products that can compete on the world market, and mainly in terms of price. These are mainly industries dependent on raw materials (they account for more than ½ of exports), primarily fuel and energy complex, ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, petrochemical and forestry industries. Russian military equipment and weapons have relatively high competitiveness, some types of which have no analogues in the world. The bulk of manufacturing products cannot compete on the world market; moreover, there is a decrease in the competitiveness of machinery and equipment for civil use, which is expressed in a reduction in export volumes individual species products, such as cars. Considering the global trend towards increasing the knowledge intensity of products, it will be increasingly difficult for Russia to catch up with the most advanced countries in the world.

Among Russia's competitive advantages are the presence of rich natural resources, a fairly high educational level of the population, a qualified workforce and scientific and technical potential. Russia occupies the last places in the competitiveness ranking based on indicators such as openness of the economy and the quality of competition, transparency and efficiency of administrative management.

Managing national competitiveness is the maintenance of broad public consensus on the goals and methods of the national development program and economic order, ensuring on this basis the manageability of the economy; developing the economy’s internal capacity for innovative renewal and flexible response to emerging “windows of opportunity” in domestic and foreign markets; minimizing risks for the effective space of sovereignty (space of strategic alliance relations); ensuring the stability of the economy against foreign trade, financial and other shocks.

Ensuring national competitiveness involves:

-effective coordination of economics and politics;
- inventory of the comparative advantages of the economy;
-development of a competitive environment;
-formation of a system of strategic forecasting and planning aimed at identifying bottlenecks that impede the implementation of the most important competitive advantages of the national economy;
-development of a strategy for long-term development of all significant sectors of the economy.

Since ensuring the competitiveness of the economy in all areas is practically impossible, there is a need to solve two main problems: creating mechanisms for determining national priorities and the formation of a system of measures to ensure the coordination of the efforts of economic players in the implementation of the developed priorities. The priorities of the national competitiveness strategy are determined in the logic of bottlenecks (as in real economy, and in mechanisms economic policy), hindering the capitalization of competitive advantages.

In relation to internal factors of competitiveness, the following aspects are key:

-innovative capacity, desire for innovation;
- the ability not only to create new things, but also to remove old ones;
-stimulating the emergence of new businesses;
-transparency, legality, bringing business processes out of the shadows
-negotiability, effectiveness of the right to apply;
-investment attractiveness, attraction of new capital;
- stability and adaptability, the ability to use new resources, reacting in advance to the depletion of old ones and to emerging threats;
-efficiency of public administration.

Towards external factors national competitiveness, the main thing is to assess the reaction of external centers economic power and determining Russia's place in the global coordinate system.

In Russia, due to objective circumstances, there are a number of factors leading to a decrease in competitiveness in both the domestic and foreign markets, the main one of which is higher production costs compared to the world average, associated with unfavorable climatic conditions and a large territory. Russia is the coldest and longest country in the world, and this circumstance is the reason for the increase in construction costs, high transport and energy costs. Labor productivity in Russia is only about 20% of its level in the United States. In this regard, in order to maintain the price competitiveness of domestic products, it is necessary either to lower the level of wages by an amount that compensates for the additional costs of transporting goods and increased energy intensity, or to artificially maintain low tariffs. Therefore, an active state policy is needed aimed at leveling these negative factors and supporting national producers. The domestic market must be considered Russian companies as a launching pad, a mechanism for rejecting new ideas, and the state should strive for maximum convergence of the conditions and mechanisms of the internal market with the objective, specified requirements of the external one. Of course, gradual convergence can and should be ensured not only by manufacturing companies (on the supply side) and the direct influence of the state, but also by bringing demand factors closer to international standards (attitude to product quality, compliance with the requirements of efficiency and environmental standards, etc. .).

The modern basis of the Russian economy is a significant volume of exports of natural energy resources, and, consequently, its significant dependence on the actual state of affairs in the world economy as a whole. Currently have Russian economy available real opportunity catch up with countries that are among the world's economic leaders. This requires modernization of the economic sphere of Russia: the creation of a favorable investment and business climate. In the future, the prospects for attracting new investments into the Russian economy, both external and internal, are obvious; strengthening of the ruble exchange rate and its transition to global convertibility; improving the quality of life of the population.

IN modern conditions In order to withstand competition in the context of increasing efforts by world leaders to increase their competitiveness, Russia needs a state competitive strategy aimed at achieving strategic competitiveness, creating the necessary conditions for the realization of national interests in a tough global competitive environment. Competitive strategy as an integral part of state strategy will allow the state to effectively use the competitive advantages and competitive resources available to it.

In the very in a general sense under competitiveness understands the ability to get ahead of others, using your advantages in achieving your goals.

Competitiveness is one of the most important integral characteristics used to evaluate efficiency economic activity economic entities. The word competitiveness itself, in relation to whatever subject it is considered, means the ability of a given subject (potential and/or real) to withstand competition.

S.I. Ozhegov in “ Explanatory dictionary Russian language" interprets the term competitiveness as the ability to withstand and resist competitors.

R.A. Fatkhutdinov gives the following definition of competitiveness is the ability of an object to withstand competition in comparison with similar objects in a given market. The author emphasizes that a product or service is competitive or non-competitive in a particular market.

The variety of existing approaches to the concept of competitiveness is currently economic literature defined:

or the peculiarities of the formulation of the problem and purpose of the study, which leads the author to the need to focus his attention on one or another aspect of competitiveness;
or the peculiarities of the choice of the subject of research, which can be objects of competition (product, service) and subjects of competition (enterprises, industries, regions, national economy, state), and objects of competition (demand, market, factors of production: natural raw materials, labor, capital, securities, information, political power), and the scale of activity (product markets, industry markets, regional markets, interregional markets, world markets).

Main types of competitiveness:

(enterprises, firms, companies);
(goods, services).

Table 1. Hierarchy of competitiveness concepts

Hierarchy level	Concept of competitiveness
	The country’s ability to produce goods and services that meet the requirements of world markets and create conditions for increasing government resources at a speed that allows for sustainable GDP growth rates and the quality of life of the population at the world level
	The ability of the region to produce goods and services that meet the requirements of domestic and world markets, to create conditions for increasing regional resources (innovation, intellectual, investment) to ensure the growth of the competitiveness potential of business entities at a rate that ensures sustainable growth rates of GRP and the quality of life of the region’s population at the level of world values
	The ability of the industry to produce goods and services that meet the requirements of global and domestic markets, and to create conditions for increasing the competitive potential of industry enterprises
	Ability: to achieve your own goals in the face of competition from competitors; satisfy the needs of consumers by producing and offering to the market goods that are superior to competitors; use production and management resources to develop and expand sales markets, increase market value enterprises
	The ability to be attractive to the buyer in comparison with other products of a similar type and purpose due to better compliance of its quality and cost characteristics with the requirements of a given market and consumer assessments

Competitiveness of goods (services)

- complex, multifaceted, economic object, characterized by a set of properties, the main of which are consumer properties, i.e. the ability of a product to satisfy the needs of those who own it. A product is a product of labor produced for sale. The term “product” is more universal; a more general term is “product”. Goods are physically tangible products. The product also includes an intangible component (services, ideas, etc.).

A product is anything that can be offered on the market for acquisition, use or consumption in order to satisfy certain needs (physical objects, services, ideas). According to Kotler, a product is perceived at three levels:

product by design, which must determine what consumer problem the created product solves (the main benefit or service);
actual product — specific product, having a level of quality, a set of properties, specific design, brand name, packaging;
reinforced goods- provision additional services(supplies and lending, installation, guarantees, after-sales service, etc.).

A service is a type of activity or benefit that one party can offer to another.

Service characteristics:

intangibility (the service cannot be seen, tasted or heard before purchasing it);
inseparability from the manufacturer (its implementation is possible only in the presence of the manufacturer);
inconsistency of quality (the quality of the service depends on the skill of the manufacturers);
non-storability (the service cannot be stored until the next sale or use).

In the hierarchy of competitiveness concepts, the basic concept is “,” which can be considered for various types goods (industrial and technical purposes, consumer purposes, services, information, etc.).

The producers of goods are enterprises, industries, regions, states that enter into competition for:

consumers;
markets (commodity, industry, territorial);
factors of production (natural raw materials, production
technological, labor, financial resources);
investments.

Consumer value of the product is its ability to satisfy a specific need of the corresponding group of consumers (consumer segment). The consumer value of a product is determined by the degree to which it meets the needs of the relevant consumer group. Measure of consumer value of a product- the maximum price that the consumer is willing to pay for it without regret. The lower the selling price of a product relative to its consumer value, the more profitable it is for the consumer to purchase the product, or, in other words, the higher the competitiveness of the product. For the consumer, the unpaid part of the consumer value is equal to the additional profit he received from using the product. For the manufacturer, it corresponds to the “margin of competitiveness of its products.”

Many buyers, when deciding to purchase a particular product, use the following criteria: price and quality (and this may mean reliability for some buyers, and aesthetic characteristics for others). The consumer weighs “whether there is enough quality” offered to him for the specified price. Describing successful purchase, people often say that “for just so many rubles they managed to buy a product with such and such advantages.” In other words, the buyer believes that he would not have minded paying more for the purchased product. But since it was obtained cheaper, the acquisition price is lower than the consumer value. The higher the share of unpaid utility received by the consumer as a gift, the higher the competitiveness of a product.

When comparing goods intended to satisfy the same need, the buyer takes into account their consumer properties and determines the degree of compliance with his own needs. At the same time, he strives to achieve optimal ratio between the level of consumer properties of a product and the costs of its acquisition and use, that is, to obtain the maximum consumer effect per unit of cost. In relation to a specific need, the specified ratio can be achieved by a number of different products due to the presence of similar properties. Accordingly, all of them will have the ability to satisfy this need and in relation to it can be considered as interchangeable. For example, a person's need for movement can be satisfied by using a car, motorcycle, bicycle, train, etc.

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

STATE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION

MOSCOW BANKING INSTITUTE

DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC THEORY

COURSE WORK

ON ECONOMIC THEORY

ON THE TOPIC: COMPETITIVENESS IN THE WORLD ECONOMY.

I checked the work:

I've done the work:

Moscow 2010

Introduction________________________________________________________________________________ 3

1. Formation of competitiveness in the global economy ________________________________4

2. Determination of competitive sectors of the world economy_______________________________________________________________________________8

3. Factors hindering the growth of economic competitiveness________________13

4. Prospects for increasing competitiveness ________________________________15

Conclusion.__________________________________________________________________________18

References______________________________________________________________21

Introduction.

Currently, taking place under the sign of globalization, the problem of the competitiveness of national economies has become acute. It is safe to say that for most countries, increasing national competitiveness will be one of the top priorities for the coming decades. And in the world economic thought The problem of competitiveness over the past 20 years has become one of the most actively developed and discussed.

The basis of a competitive economy is a competitive industry. All actions: developed programs and legislative acts, government regulation procedures and activities state support must be subordinated to the main and priority goal for today - ensuring the competitiveness of the economy and the country as a whole.

Competition is one of the most important features of a market economy. It is competition that ensures the creative freedom of the individual and creates conditions for self-realization in the economic sphere through the development and creation of new competitive goods and services. In modern conditions of the intensifying process of globalization and internationalization, the problems of international competition come to the fore.
An indicator of the recognition of the leading role of competition for the successful functioning of a market economy is the fact that in most countries of the world, including countries with economies in transition, competition laws have now been adopted and national authorities have been created to deal with these issues.
Country and industry competitiveness ultimately depends on the ability of a particular commodity producer to produce a competitive product.

Economic competitiveness is the basis for development . The competitiveness of the economy is, first of all, the activation of exports. Export development is the Government's top priority.
Industrial competitiveness is a flag that should be carried in the hands as the main symbol of economic transformation. This is an idea that can unite people, regardless of their political preferences and position in society.
There will be a competitive industry, there will be:

exports and foreign exchange earnings (independence from the state of international commodity markets);
stable tax revenues to the budget;
employment;
social and political stability;

well-deserved position in the international arena

1. Formation of competitiveness in the global economy.

Russia is part of the world economy, and this is a fait accompli. Let's look at competitiveness in the global economy using Russia as an example.
The most important goal of the Russian Government is to create a competitive economy that ensures the country's leadership in the international market.

IN international ratings competitiveness Russia traditionally belongs to the group developing countries, characterized by heightened political and economic instability, unfavorable investment climate, as well as extremely high risks economic activity.

In modern conditions, the competitiveness of a country is an indicator of the state

and prospects for the development of the economic system, determines the nature of its participation in the international division of labor, acts as a guarantor economic security and in general view represents the ability of a country, in conditions of free competition, to produce goods and services that meet the requirements of the world market, the implementation of which increases the well-being of the population. The deepening of financial and economic ties, the openness of national economies, their complementarity and rapprochement determine the strategic guideline for Russia’s development - to “enter” world economy not as a raw material appendage, but as an economic developed country With high level technological development, strong financial institutions, developed infrastructure and information sector. In addition, Russia's integration into the global economic community as a competitive economy will contribute to the implementation of a long-term program to achieve sustainable

economic growth.

Taking into account the above, the task acquires special relevance and significance

full and effective entry of Russia into world economy, increase

the level of competitiveness of the country in general and economic entities in particular,

which requires new research on this issue, identifying the features

competition in modern economic conditions, as well as analysis of preconditions and

restrictions on the formation of competitive advantages in Russia.

A general definition of a country's competitiveness can be formulated

based on the concept proposed by A. Z. Seleznev: “competitiveness

– it is conditioned by economic, social, political and other

factors are the position of the country and its individual producers in the domestic and

external markets, reflected through indicators that adequately characterize this state and its dynamics.”

Competitiveness is an objective process that reflects the continuity and dynamism of the development of the economic system.

National competitiveness is defined as the resulting relative indicator, reflecting the level of efficiency of production, distribution and sale of goods both within the country and abroad in order to increase one’s own economic potential and the level of socio-economic development. Based on the presented interpretation, it follows that the essence of a country’s competitiveness presupposes a certain level of competitiveness of domestic companies and the goods they produce.

The “producers” of competitive advantages are firms and industries, therefore

only they can implement them. The state acts as the “holder”

competitive advantages in terms of creating an environment, conditions for their

formation (macro level). Accordingly, the state cannot directly

maintain and develop the created competitive advantages, this is the area of activity

companies (micro level). Analysis of the essence of the concept “international”

competitiveness of the country" allows us to conclude that the most justified

an approach to determining the competitiveness of an economy is presented on the basis

identifying competitiveness factors.

At the same time, a combination of objective and subjective factors, beneficial

distinguishing subjects and objects of economic activity (country, region, company,

product) from their competitors represents a competitive advantage. In conditions

Globalization of the economy significantly changes the nature of the country's competitiveness factors, their ratio and interrelation. Internal structure

the economic system becomes flexible and easily adapts to external factors

environment, while the system itself is aimed at the formation of promising (future)

competitive advantages determined by new technological structures, new

markets, development human capital etc. Obviously, an adequate change

internal structure of the economy becomes possible thanks not only to factors

extensive growth, but also, above all, qualitative changes and innovative

development.

IN international practice developed and constantly improved

three main centers for the study of global competitiveness: the Institute

strategy and competitiveness at Harvard University (USA),

International Institute for Management Development (IIDM) and World Economic

forum (WEF). If the first institute studies competitiveness in corporate

plane, then the other two compose their ratings of the competitiveness of countries and

regions based on their own exclusive research methodologies.

By the competitiveness of a country, MIRM understands the ability of a nation to create and

maintain an environment in which competitive business emerges. Annual

MIRM has been conducting analytical research since 1989 in collaboration with research

The concept and meaning of the competitiveness of the national economy

Note 1

The national economy is a complex, multi-stage system that covers the entire socio-economic complex of the state. In general terms, it can be defined as the historically established system of social reproduction of the country.

The national economy should be understood as an interconnected set economic entities and types of economic activity, covering all forms of social division of labor. Its basic features are:

common economic space;
territorial certainty with a common economic center;
tight economic ties between business entities.

The fundamental goal of the national economy is to ensure economic growth of the country's economy by maximizing opportunities for creating favorable living conditions for the country's population.

The national economy has various characteristics, one of which is its competitiveness. Competitiveness in a general sense is understood as the ability to be better than your competitors. It is always based on the presence of certain competitive advantages.

When applied to the sphere of social reproduction, the term “competitiveness” takes on a slightly different meaning. Most often, the competitiveness of the national economy is considered to be three components:

the state's ability to achieve high rates of economic growth that are sustainable in the medium term;
the country's factor productivity level;
the ability of business entities to successfully compete in world markets.

Note 2

In a general sense, the competitiveness of the national economy should be understood as the competitiveness of the system of social, state and political-legal structure of the country and the regulation of all aspects public life. It can also be defined as the state’s ability to ensure sustainable, dynamic development of the national economy, implying the material well-being of members of society that meets world standards.

Ensuring the competitiveness of the national economy is based on three basic elements (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Fundamentals of ensuring the competitiveness of the national economy. Author24 - online exchange of student work

The competitiveness of the national economy is ensured by the effectiveness of state economic policy, the development of the economy of knowledge production and increased competition in external and internal markets.

Stages of growth of competitiveness of the national economy

According to the classical approach, outlined by M. Porter, there are four basic stages of the competitiveness of the national economy. They are presented in general form in Figure 2.

Figure 2. Stages of competitiveness of the national economy. Author24 - online exchange of student work

Each of the presented stages corresponds to four basic incentives (driving forces) that predetermine the development of the national economy. Moreover, the first three stages are characterized by an increase in the competitiveness of the national economy, and the last one predetermines its stabilization.

At the first stage of growth, the achievement of competitive advantages of the national economy is ensured through the use of production factors ( economic resources). It is characterized by vulnerability and instability of competitive advantages. The economic system of the state itself is characterized by high sensitivity to random events that occur in the global space, such as the movement of transnational capital, changes exchange rates, economic crises etc.

At the second stage of growth, the achievement of competitive advantages is ensured through investment, through effective investment policy. In this case, competitive advantages are more sustainable, and the development and implementation of new technologies are more widespread.

The third stage is characterized by the reliance of competitive advantages on innovation, stimulation of innovation, and growth scientific organizations oriented to the specific needs of industries and firms. In general, it is characterized by a higher and more difficult to achieve level of competitive advantages compared to previous stages.

Factors of competitiveness of the national economy

The competitiveness of any state economic system is based on certain factors. Otherwise, they are usually called factors of competitiveness of the national economy. All of them are divided into factors of lower and higher order. Currently, there are two main approaches to their definition:

neoclassical approach (according to M. Porter);
institutional approach (according to O. Williamson).

According to the neoclassical approach voiced by M. Porter, factors of national competitiveness economic systems are divided into basic and developed. The former exist objectively, and their creation requires minor private and/or public investment. Such factors include natural and climatic resources, the economic and geographical position of the country, labor force, etc. Often, the advantages generated by such factors are unstable, and the profit from their use is low.

Developed factors are considered higher order factors. Their creation, as a rule, requires highly qualified personnel and highly developed technologies. On the basis of developed factors, complementary developed factors can be created.

In accordance with the institutional approach of O. Williamson, the factors of competitiveness of the national economy can be general (universal) and specific. The first includes those factors that can be used in a wide range of activities, and the second includes those that are used in one industry or a limited number of them.

Note 3

As a rule, general factors create competitive advantages of a limited nature. Specific factors are based on general factors and form a more long-term, fundamental basis for ensuring the competitiveness of national economic systems. They are often riskier and more targeted.

Neoclassical models of economic growth

Neoclassical models of economic growth appeared in the mid-50s. twentieth century, when the problem of achieving potential growth rates came to the fore not so much through unused capacity, but through the introduction of new technology, increasing labor productivity and improving the organization of production.

IN models R. Solow The Cobb-Douglas production function is used, in which the factors “labor” and “capital” are substitutes.

The prerequisites of the model are: a) diminishing marginal productivity of capital (MPC); b) constant returns to scale; c) constant rate of capital retirement; d) absence of investment lags; e) the interchangeability of factors is explained by technology and the assumptions of perfect competition in the market of production factors.

The proposal describes a production function with constant returns to scale, and for any positive z it's true that .

Where Y/L- individual labor productivity y;

K/L- capital-labor ratio (capital-labor ratio) k.

Then we can write that labor productivity is a function of capital productivity (at each point of the curve the tangent of the angle is equal to the marginal productivity of capital) and supply can be defined as y = f(k) (Fig. 14.2).

Demand y in the R. Solow model is determined by consumption and investment, i.e.

Where With And i- consumption and investment per person employed.

Figure 14.2 - Dependence of labor productivity on capital-labor ratio.

But either, then, or
, which means demand is defined as

Taking into account the equality of demand and supply, we have:

The dynamics of output volume depends on investments and the level of their disposal. Investments change capital-labor ratio k and depend on the rate of accumulation, i.e.

The disposal of funds is equal to the value dk, Where d- annually retired part of capital k. Hence the dynamics of the capital stock is as follows: or .

There is an equilibrium value of capital-labor ratio k*.

If the capital-labor ratio is less than the equilibrium value, i.e. k 1 < k*, investments are greater than disposals. i.e. i> dk, which means their growth increases the capital-labor ratio to k*. If the capital-labor ratio is greater than the equilibrium value, i.e. k 2 > k*, then investment is less than disposal, i.e. i < dk, which means the capital-labor ratio is reduced to k* (Fig. 14.3).

Figure 14.3 - Equilibrium value of capital ratio

The value of the equilibrium capital-labor ratio is influenced by the rate of accumulation (savings). An increase in the accumulation rate to 1 increases the equilibrium value of the capital-labor ratio to k* 1, increases labor productivity ( cm. rice. 14.3).

Let the population grow at the rate n. Now, in order to maintain the previous level of capital-labor ratio, a volume of investment is required that will not only cover the retirement of capital, but also provide them with new workers, i.e., the change in the stock of capital per worker will become equal to = i – dk – nk, = f(k) – (d+n)k.

For the state of equilibrium capital-labor ratio, equality is necessary:

= f(k) – (d+n)k = 0.

In this case, the angular coefficient increases ( d+n)k and the equilibrium value of capital-labor ratio k* decreases k* 1 (Fig. 14.4).

Thus, in order for the capital-labor ratio to remain constant, as the population grows, capital must increase at the same rate, i.e.

Figure 14.4 - Capital-labor ratio with population growth

Thus, population growth is a factor in economic growth.

Taking technological progress into account in the model modifies the original production function (a labor-saving form of scientific and technical progress is assumed), i.e.

Y=F(K, L.E.),

Where E- labor efficiency;

L.E.- number conventional units labor with constant efficiency E. The more E, the more output a worker can produce.

Let E growing at a rate g. If the number L growing at a rate n, A E with tempo g, then the number of standard units of labor with constant efficiency L.E. grows at a rate ( n + g). From here k = i – dk– nk – gk or k = f(k) – (d+n+g)k.

Thus, in the presence of scientific and technical progress, the total volume of capital and output will grow at a rate g, which is the basis for improving the well-being of the population.

Because the economic growth associated with different savings rates, the problem arises of choosing the optimal savings rate at which consumption will reach its maximum.

“Golden” level of capital accumulation (« Golden Rule Phelps accumulation") is the level of capital accumulation that ensures the highest consumption of society and a stable state of the economy.

Consumption growth is possible up to the point where the growth rate of investment is greater than the rate of capital outflow (point k** rice. 14.5). Here the volume of output increases more than the increase in disposal and consumption.

Change in capital ratio k gives an increase in output equal to the marginal productivity of capital and increases disposal by d(MRK = d). Taking into account population growth and scientific and technological progress, RTOs = d+n+g, which is equal to the tangent with the slope d+n+g. If the economy initially has a larger stock of capital, a program is needed to reduce the marginal propensity to save.

If the capital stock is less than k**, then a program to increase the level of savings is needed. This program will initially lead to an increase in investment and a fall in consumption, but as capital accumulates, consumption begins to rise again.

R. Solow's model highlights technological progress as the only basis for sustainable growth of well-being.

The disadvantage of the model is that it analyzes the state of sustainable growth in the long term, without taking into account a number of growth limiters (resource, environmental, social).

Figure 14.5 - “Golden” level of capital accumulation

In the neoclassical model, the sustainable growth rate is determined exogenously. Modern theories Endogenous growth attempts to determine sustainable growth rates within the model endogenously, linking it with all possible quantitative and qualitative factors: resource, institutional and others.

Proponents of the concept of “supply-side economics” believe that increasing growth rates at full employment is possible by reducing external regulatory intervention in the market economy.

J. Mead model also has a neoclassical basis and explains economic growth through marginalist approaches using the law of marginal productivity of factors. Using a modernized version of the Cobb-Douglas function, J. Mead derived the equation for the possibility of stable dynamic equilibrium:

Where y- average annual growth rate of national income;

k- average annual growth rate of capital;

L- average annual labor growth rate;

Share of capital in national income;

Labor's share of national income;

r- rate of technical progress.

Thus, the growth rate of national income is equal to the sum of the growth rates of labor and capital, weighted by the share of their expenditures in national income, plus the rate of technological progress. Assuming that the growth rate of labor and technological progress are constant, J. Mead concludes that a sustainable rate of economic growth will be achieved provided that the growth rate of capital is stable and equal to the growth rate of national income.

If the rate of increase in capital exceeds the rate of growth of national income, this will lead to an automatic decrease in the rate of accumulation. This dependence is a consequence of the premise of a constant share of savings in national income, therefore the increase in savings required to finance higher rates of accumulation will lag behind the latter, having a restraining effect on them, and vice versa.

Considering the influence of the growth rate of labor productivity on dynamic equilibrium, J. Mead came to the conclusion that if they exceed the rate of capital accumulation, then due to a decrease in the marginal productivity of labor, labor will be replaced by capital and their new combination will occur in production process will provide full time both labor and capital. Therefore, in reality, it is necessary to maintain a correspondence between the growth rates of labor and capital accumulation. If the increase in labor is not accompanied by a corresponding increase in capital, the increase in the labor force will be excessive.

If unemployment occurs, competition in the labor market will increase, which will lead to a decrease in wage rates and an increase in the profitability of capital. As a result, the rate of accumulation will increase, which will be balanced with the rate of growth of the labor force. The state in J. Mead's model should play only an indirect stabilizing role through the use of monetary policy. Only this will make it possible to create an effective mechanism for the redistribution of income and savings, ensuring necessary employment resources and sustainable economic growth.

A. Lewis model considers the labor reserve as the basis of economic growth and is applicable to countries in which “population density is high, capital is scarce, and natural resources are limited” (India, Pakistan, Egypt, etc.).

At the center of the analysis is the figure of the entrepreneur. In addition, the task is to optimally redistribute part of the labor resources between sectors of the economy: agriculture and industry in order to accelerate the rate of economic growth. The supply of labor resources in the agricultural sector is unlimited, and in the industrial sector it is a function available capital, level of technology and demand for manufactured products.

A. Lewis divides economic growth itself into two types: in industry, its source is the use of additional quantity work force (extensive type), V agriculture- increasing marginal productivity (intensive type). These two types of economic growth correspond to two different investment functions. In industry we're talking about, basically, about expanding capital. In agriculture, investments are expanding due to declining profits: increasing costs for wages forces the replacement of manual labor with machine labor in order to reduce costs and increase profits.

A. Lewis believed that the model is not applicable to Western countries that have already passed the industrial stage; other authors, on the contrary, see it as workable in a developed economy. Countries such as Great Britain, Sweden, Belgium, Norway and Denmark also confirmed A. Lewis’s model, but in an inverse relationship: low economic growth rates in these countries were associated with limited use of labor resources and production capacity. Another group consisted of countries experiencing a significant surplus of labor (Spain, Portugal, Greece, Yugoslavia, Turkey). Their economic growth, according to S. Kindleberger, also fits into the model of A. Lewis. These countries supplied labor not only to their own industry, but also to the industry of other European countries and served as a kind of reserve fund labor for the entire continent.

For countries with open economy Competitiveness is of great importance. It is this that determines the further economic growth of the country and the solution to the problem foreign trade, level of well-being of the population.

Competitiveness- this is the presence of abilities and properties that provide advantages over economic rivals in certain areas of activity. National competitiveness- is the ability to effectively and efficiently use available resources, as a result of which the economy can constantly develop, producing innovations and implementing innovations.

The following are distinguished: levels of competitiveness economics: competitiveness of goods, enterprises, industries, regional competitiveness and competitiveness of the country. If for a product the key factors in determining the level of competitiveness are its price and quality, then the company’s main competitive strategies are a cost reduction strategy and a differentiation strategy aimed at finding new technologies and creating products with new characteristics.

criterion competitiveness of a company is the profitability of production, scale innovation activity, level of labor productivity, effectiveness of strategic planning, management, its adaptability to market conditions.

Industry competitiveness is associated with an assessment of the international specialization of the national economy, the share of exports of goods and capital of a given industry in the overall structure of exports and capital exports.

We are talking about the competitiveness of individual regions when competitive advantages are associated with the local conditions of certain territories, where successfully competing firms and industries have a pronounced geographic concentration, and the level of territorial decentralization of management functions allows them to independently enter the world market.

The competitiveness of a country is an indicator that determines all previous levels of competitiveness.

Basic theory of country competitiveness M. Porter identifies four components that ensure such competitiveness:

1) factor conditions. Along with the main factors of production, their quantity and quality, acquired factors (modern infrastructure, highly educated personnel, research institutes, etc.) are of great importance;

2) significant in size, segmented demand for domestic market for the products of an industry striving for international leadership;

3) the presence of related and supporting (auxiliary, related) industries with strong international positions;

4) an additional condition for the country’s competitiveness is state policy (the state forms an institutional structure in the environment of which a company or industry operates).

General patterns of competitiveness do not exclude great influence and the significance of local conditions, customs, and economic policies.

Foreign experience achieving competitiveness shows that each country has its own way to ensure a strong position in the world market. National prosperity is created. To achieve this, a set of forces must be in place that would ensure a constant readiness to introduce innovations, modernize the economy, and accelerate development.

Competitiveness as a property of the economy is a very dynamic quality. To maintain it, a competitive basis of the economy and targeted government support are necessary.

Achieving competitiveness requires the implementation of the following approaches:

a) expanding the export of efficiently operating industries and industries;

b) import of goods for which the country is uncompetitive;

c) promoting the export of capital in the form of direct investment in those industries that are less productive within the national economy or the development of which is aimed at expanding sales markets by overcoming customs barriers.

Foreign practice shows that the starting positions for the development of competitiveness are in industries that rely on the use of natural resources or labor-intensive goods. It is important to consider the focus on creating competitive advantages in strictly defined industries, segments or even individual industries. The rational structure of export-import operations is of great importance.