Methodological Approaches to Study “Competitiveness” Notion

The paper is devoted to a detailed and comprehensive analysis of such economic category as competitiveness. Its beginning is focused on plurality of interpretations for a “competitiveness” term depending on goals and objectives, and it also provides a description of such economic category as “competitive advantage”. In addition the paper describes the most widespread approaches to competitiveness based on the opinion of reputable scientists and researchers (J. Faberberg, M. Francis, M. Best, A. Figuera) and it gives a definition of competitiveness at the micro-, meso- and macro levels. Detailed description of competitive relation levels, relationship and interaction between subjects (participants) of competitive relations depending on the competition level (national, international) has been given in the paper. Taking into account the approaches developed by prestigious foreign and national scientists, the author has prepared his own classification of methodological approaches to a definition of competitiveness on the basis of factors that ensure its growth and goals which it is striving for (its qualitative characteristics). The given classification includes seven groups of theories: production theories (theories of production efficiency), institutional theories, theories of technological (innovative) development (improvement), market (marketing) theories, theories of national (social) welfare, management theories and mixed theories. In addition, some indicators have been pinpointed and these indicators make it possible to analyze competitiveness (consumer price index, growth rate of inflation, nominal exchange rate of the Belarusian ruble, GDP growth rate, GDP structure (share of national economy sectors), monetization (ratio M2/GDP), availability of financial (credit) resources: dynamics of refinancing rate, credit rates (collateral, intraday, overnight credit, rates on REPO operations), producer price index (growth rate of prices for raw materials, real wages), level of tax burden for enterprises of industry and business, availability of tax incentives for innovative business (presence of an innovative component in business)) and they are proposed to be added for the forms of statistical reports, in particular a report on production of industrial products (works, services), a report on prices, a report on current costs for environmental protection, a report on implementation of research and development, a report on labor.

1. Nazarov A. M. (2008) The Competitive Strength of National Economics: the Transformation of the Concept and the Implements for State Regulation. Izvestiya SanktPeterburgskogo Universiteta Ekonomiki i Finansov [Proceedings of Saint-Petersburg University of Economics and Finance], 54 (2), 87–89 (in Russian).

2. Migranian A. A. (2017) Competitiveness and Structural Reconstruct Economic System of the State in Conditions of Transformation of Economy. Available at: http://groupglobal.org/ru/node/67035 (?ccessed 21 November 2014) (in Russian).

3. Pylin A. G. (2008) Compatibility of Economic Systems in CIS Countries against World Background. Vestnik Nauchnoi Informatsii = Bulletin of Scientific Information, (2). Available at: http://docplayer.ru/32059252-Konkurento sposobnost-ekonomik-stran-sng-na-mirovom-fone.html (Accessed 27 February 2014) (in Russian).

4. Moiseeva I. V. Theoretical Approaches to Study HEI [Higher Education Institution] Compatibility. Available at: http://sisupr.mrsu.ru/2008-1/pdf/19-moiseeva.pdf. (?ccessed 27 February 2014) (in Russian).

5. Gogoleva T. N. (2003) Country Compatibility: Essence and Problems of Regulation. Vestnik Voronezhskogo Gosudarstvennogo Universiteta. Ekonomika i Upravlenie = Proceedings of Voronezh State University. Series: Economics and Management, (1), 4–9 (in Russian).

6. Sorokina G. P., Zakharov A. V., Boronnikov A. V. (2011) Non-Material Components of Compatibility. Moscow, Moscow State University of Mechanical Engineering. 322 (in Russian).

7. Gelvanovsky M. I. (2012) Methodological Approaches to Provision of Compatibility in International Integration Groups Under Conditions of Globalization. Evraziiskaya Ekonomicheskaya Integratsiya = Journal of Eurasian Economic Integration, 14 (1), 44–58 (in Russian).

8. Zelenkevich M. I. Theory of National Economy Compatibility as a Basis for Development of World Trade. Available at: http://www.e-edu.by/main/departments/finance/staff/zelenkevich/publications/10.pdf (Accessed 27 February 2014) (in Russian).

9. Danilov I. A., Volkova E. V. (2010) Retrospective Analysis for Understanding the Terms “Compatibility” and “Competitive Advantage” by National and Foreign Specialists. Vestnik Chelyabinskogo Gosudarstvennogo Universiteta = CSU Bulletin, 24 (3), 126–133 (in Russian).

10. Shul M. Yu. (2012) Scientific Belief on Essence of National Economy Compatibility. Teoriya i Praktika Obshchestvennogo Razvitiya = Theory and Practice of Social Development,(8). Available at: http://teoria-practica.ru/rus/files/arhiv_zhurnala/2012/8/ekonomika/shul.pdf (Accessed 27 February 2014) (in Russian).

11. Shafranskaya I. N. (2012) Compatibility of Russian Regions Through the Prism of Creativity or About Another Regional Ranking. Konkurentosposobnyi Region: Kontseptsii i Faktory: Sb. St. [Competitive Region: Concepts and Factors: Collection of Articles]. Permian, 56–72 (in Russian).

12. Belykh O. V. (2011) Compatibility Concept and its Evolution. Molodoy Uchiony [Young Scientist], (6), 145–147 (in Russian).

13. Theoretical and Methodological Aspects for Reaching Innovation Compatibility at the National Level. Available at: http://ru.yacontent.com/w/%D0%A2%D0%B5%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B5%D1%82%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%BE…%B5 (Accessed 23 December 2014) (in Russian).

14. Efficiency Indicators of Labor-Market Performance. Available at: http://econominfo.ru/view-article.php?id=130 (?ccessed 23 December 2014) (in Russian).

15. Logunov V. N. (2009) Governmental Regulation of Labor Market. Available at: http://www.lerc.ru/books/articles/0015/0005/ (Accessed 23 December2014) (in Russian).

16. Labor productivity / Determination of Labor Productivity, Indicators of Labor Productivity, Labor Efficiency. Encyclopedia of Investor. Available at: https://investments.academic.ru/1315/%D0%9F%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BB%D1%8C%D0%BD%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D1%8C_%D1%82%D1%80%D1%83%D0%B4%D0%B0 (Accessed 9 February 2015) (in Russian).

17. Otstavnova L. A. (2011) Factors for Formation of Intercompany Labor Market. Available at: http://www.rusnau ka.com/25_NNP_2011/Economics/5_91925.doc.htm (Accessed 9 February 2015) (in Russian).

18. Influence of Factors for Scientific and Technological Progress on Prospects of Socio-Economic Development and Compatibility in Russia. Available at: http://www.pandia.ru/text/77/202/65159.php (Accessed 16 February 2015) (in Russian).

19. Arzu Inal G. (2003) A Study into Competitiveness Indicators. Available at: http://ref.sabanciuniv.edu/sites/ref.sabanciuniv.edu/files/inal_makale.pdf (?ccessed 16 February 2015).

20. Fernando J. D. L., Felix B. (2010) Defining Firm’s Competitive Sustainability: from Fuzzy Conceptions to a Primer Definition and a Research Agenda. Paper for the “16th Annual International Sustainable Development Research Conference”, 4–5.

21. Kolesov P. F. (2012) Main Factors Which Influence Banking Ability to Compete. Sovremennye Nauchnye Issledovaniya i Innovatsii = Modern Scientific Researches and Innovations. Available at: http://web.snauka.ru/issues/2012/ 11/18351 (Accessed 16 February 2015) (in Russian).

22. Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) (1992) Technology and Economy. The Key Relations. Paris: OECD.

23. Zander E. V., Inyukhina E. V. (2010) CompetitivenessAssessment-Based Monitoring of Socioeconomic Systems. Zhurnal Sibirskogo Federal'nogo Universiteta. Seriya: Gumanitarnye Nauki = Journal of Siberian Federal University. Humanities & Social Sciences, 3 (4), 546–553.

24. ?ibinskien? A. (2010) Relation of Infrastructure Natural Monopolies and National Competitiveness. Ekonomika ir Vadyba-Economics & Managemen, (15), 62–67.