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National Competitiveness, Dynamics of Adjustment and Long-term Economic Growth: Conceptual, Empirical and Policy Issues

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  • Howes, C.
  • Singh, A.

Abstract

Although the concept of national competitiveness is widely used by policy-makers at both the national and international levels, it has been the subject of severe criticism by Professor Krugman. He regards it as a meaningless concept and in the hands of naïve policy-makers 'a dangerous obsession' with harmful consequences. This paper challenges Professor Krugman's critique and suggests that its validity depends on a rather limited economic model whose assumptions are greatly at variance with the real world. The paper shows the analytical validity and usefulness of the concept specifically in relation to the UK and US economies.

Suggested Citation

  • Howes, C. & Singh, A., 1999. "National Competitiveness, Dynamics of Adjustment and Long-term Economic Growth: Conceptual, Empirical and Policy Issues," Accounting and Finance Discussion Papers 00-af43, Faculty of Economics, University of Cambridge.
    • Handle: RePEc:cam:camafp:00-af43
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    Cited by:

    1. Ajit Singh, 2014. "Competition, Competition Policy, Competitiveness, Globalisation & Development," Working Papers wp460, Centre for Business Research, University of Cambridge.
    2. Ajit Singh, 2016. "Competition, competition policy, competitiveness, globalization and development," Chapters, in: Erik S. Reinert & Jayati Ghosh & Rainer Kattel (ed.), Handbook of Alternative Theories of Economic Development, chapter 35, pages 666-688, Edward Elgar Publishing.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    National competitiveness; Technical change;

    JEL classification:

    • F0 - International Economics - - General
    • O3 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights

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