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The article presents the results of an analysis comparing changes in the competitive positions of the Baltic States in comparison with the Visegrad Group countries and the new EU Member States in the post-accession period (2006–2017). This type of study has not been presented in more detail in the available literature. Researchers of international economic competitiveness mostly focussed on the EU-15. The Baltic States mainly have been excluded from such investigations. Therefore, the article may significantly contribute to bridging the gap. The study employs the method of secondary data’s comparative analysis concerning indices and pillars of economic competitiveness described in The Global Competitiveness Reports of the World Economic Forum. An important element of the examination was to identify major determinants of those developments. It focussed on the identification of structural factors shaping the competitive positions of the countries covered. The demonstration which of the factors determine competitiveness and the assessment of long-term changes may serve as the basis for economic policy making. The assumption is that the EU accession had a considerable impact on the development of the competitive position but specific effects varied between countries. The Baltic States differed rather widely regarding the improvement of their competitive positions throughout the post-accession period.

Buckley et al.’s (J Int Bus Studi 38(4):499–518, 2007) pioneering work concluded that the determinants of outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) from China were similar to those observed in developed countries – but with a few modifications. In this commentary, we suggest continuing their effort to understand what is distinctive about Chinese multinational enterprises (CMNEs). We look for underlying explanations that are analytically useful and potentially generalizable, unlike a firm’s nationality, which is a catch-all variable with no analytical value. Based on prior research and Ramamurti (Glob Strategy J 2(1):41–47, 2012a), we argue that the following variables help explain distinctive aspects of CMNE internationalization: (1) their “stage of evolution as a multinational enterprise,” with most CMNEs being infant MNEs rather than mature MNEs; (2) the “global context for internationalization,” which has helped CMNEs internationalize faster than it was possible in earlier decades; (3) “government-created advantages,” which complemented China’s natural endowments and for the most part improved CMNEs’international competitiveness; and (4) “leapfrogging advantage,” which allowed late-mover Chinese firms to gain a competitive advantage in smokestack industries and some sunrise industries. These variables may also explain the behavior of MNEs from other emerging economies and are therefore candidates for inclusion in general models of the internationalization process.

The potential of multinational enterprises (MNEs) to accelerate economic development and reduce inequality has been recognized since the industrial revolution, when states sought to actively engage foreign capital in industrialization. Over time, the MNE–state compact has waxed and waned in significance due to (geo-)political developments, shaped in part by how the economic surpluses of foreign capital were distributed between domestic actors. Government policies matter as to how they prioritize international competitiveness relative to domestic inequality reduction. The contemporary rise of within-country income inequality alongside increasing globalization has drawn attention to the causes of inequality (including the activities of MNEs). Scholars in development studies have examined the underlying causes of increasing income inequalities through the lens of inequality of opportunities. We discuss how adopting this lens could advance our understanding of how MNEs influence inequality directly, as well as in interaction with the policies of the state. Subsequently, we propose a research agenda, taking into account micro-, meso-, and macro-level perspectives. In our discussion, we explicitly highlight that the MNE–state compact is dynamic, continuously changing with the evolving political and socio-economic landscape. MNEs can have an impact on inequality of opportunities, contingent on the nature of their engagement with states and other stakeholders.

The automotive value chain has traditionally been significant in Brazil and Argentina, and encouraged by specific incentives. The aim of this research is to analyse the differences regarding promotion policies of this value chain in these two countries, focusing on those oriented towards technological capabilities and, hereafter, to see their effects in terms of production, technology, and foreign trade. The methodology will be focused on the analysis of variables relevant to the scope of study. The results show that, unlike Argentina, Brazil has incorporated incentives for the development of technological capabilities in policies aimed at the automotive value chain. This resulted in Brazil's greater innovation efforts and results in the sector, a favourable gap in terms of productivity, and greater international competitiveness of the automotive value chain. In addition, it plays a leading role in the technological development of ethanol-fuelled engines and has a greater diffusion of electric vehicles than Argentina. These divergent trajectories demonstrate the relevance of public policy to promote the development of technological capabilities.

We evaluate how home-country economic agents (government, universities and research centers, and industry) affect the international competitiveness of small and medium multinational enterprises (SMNEs) of developing countries in Latin America. Drawing on a sample of 100 SMNEs of Peru, the main findings reveal that for Peruvian SMNEs, the government is a core economic agent. Competitiveness of SMNEs also depends on the relationships they have with companies operating in the same industry. Universities and research centers do not have a positive effect on the international competitiveness of SMNEs. The study both advances theory and offers practical advice

The article presents the results of an analysis that compares changes in Poland’s competitive position against the backdrop of the Visegrad Group (V4) countries and the Baltic States (BS3) in the post-accession period (2006–2017). This type of study has not been presented in detail in the available literature before. Therefore, the article may significantly contribute to bridging the gap. The study employs a comparative analysis of secondary data concerning the indices and pillars of economic competitiveness described in The Global Competitiveness Reports prepared by the World Economic Forum. An important element of the examination was the endeavour to identify major determinants of those developments. The article ends with a summary of the most significant conclusions from the analysis presented. As confirmed by the examination, the countries covered differed widely regarding the improvement of their competitive positions in the post-accession period.

The objective of this paper is to determine the current state of scientific production regarding “competitiveness” in the international context through a bibliometric analysis. This study presents a review of 2293 documents published about competitiveness in the international context from the Scopus database (1983–2017). Two different processing software applications were used, Vosviewer and Scimat. Although very recent bibliometric analyses of the topic exist, the methodology applied in the search term is restricted due to the separate use of a single search combination “national competitiveness” or “international competitiveness”. For this work, three combinations of words with logical operators were used, TITLE-ABS-KEY (“international competitiveness”) OR (“national competitiveness”) OR (“export competitiveness”), thus managing to span the concept of competitiveness in the international context in a broader sense. Our results show that competitive research is in a period of high production. The most productive authors and journals are not the most cited on competitiveness. Only three countries stand out with the largest scientific production about this topic. The trend of the most recent research points to knowledge areas in environmental sciences. The most researched geographical areas in international competitiveness encompass the whole world and especially Southeast Asia.

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the impact of environmental regulation on innovation and international competitiveness. We test the weak, narrow, and strong versions of Porter's hypotheses by looking at the impact of environmental regulation on exports both directly and indirectly through innovation and by introducing the role of pollution intensity in moderating the impact of stringent regulation on innovation and international competitiveness. Green policies are measured with the OECD Environmental Stringency Policy Index, distinguishing between market, non-market instruments, and technology support policies. Differently from previous papers, we adopt the technology gap approach to trade, which is suitable for relating environmental regulation to trade competitiveness and we apply the simultaneous-equation system econometric model with a moderating factor represented by pollution intensity. The results support the weak and strong versions of Porter’s hypotheses and find that the positive impact of regulation on innovation and exports increases with a country’s pollution intensity, suggesting that green policies, if properly coordinated, can represent a win–win strategy, fostering, at the same time, sustainability and international competitiveness.

The global competitiveness (GC) literature has proven to be a developing, yet critical element in international marketing research. Broadly, GC studies have become a part of the marketing, international business, and strategic management fields. In light of this far-reaching topic and to gain a unique understanding of the dynamics across the GC domain, this study examines the intellectual structure of GC research at two distinct levels of analysis: overall GC publications and marketing and international business GC articles. This review of the literature uses cocitation data to provide insight to the field and develop a research-based model for future consideration. A total of 48 journals are included, providing 1,819 articles with 115,462 citations for examination. Applying multidimensional scaling to analyze the data, the study introduces a GC-focused model and provides possible topics for research. The proposed organizing framework includes elements of a market-based perspective (offering development, market orientation, and process emphasis), strategy implementation (firm-related advantages, strategic approach, and international focus), and performance to advance the critical nature of the marketing function in the GC literature.

This study investigates the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) as a regional economic integration bloc, analyzing its evolution, trade integration, and industrial policy framework amid shifting global dynamics. Established in 2015, the EAEU has encountered structural challenges, geopolitical upheavals, and intensifying sanctions, especially following the war in Ukraine. These pressures have disrupted trade flows, widened economic disparities among member states, and tested the bloc's cohesion. The paper emphasizes the fact that enhancing competitiveness is critical for the resilience of the EAEU, with the industrial policy serving as the cornerstone of this effort. Employing trade indicators, such as intra-regional trade shares and the Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA) index, the study highlights uneven integration and dependence on resource-based exports. It evaluates the institutional framework of the EAEU's industrial policy, focusing on subsidy harmonization, value-added industry development, and coordination between national and regional priorities. Despite persistent institutional weaknesses and external pressures, the findings suggest that fostering industrial modernization and achieving better synergy between domestic policies and regional ambitions could strengthen the bloc's resilience and global competitiveness. Ova studija istražuje Evroazijsku ekonomsku uniju (EAEU) kao regionalni ekonomski integracioni blok, istovremeno analizirajući njenu evoluciju, trgovinsku integraciju i okvir industrijske politike usred promena globalne dinamike. Osnovana 2015. godine, EAEU se suočavala sa strukturnim izazovima, geopolitičkim prevratima i sve intenzivnijim sankcijama, posebno od izbijanja rata u Ukrajini. Ti pritisci su doveli do prekida u trgovinskim tokovima, proširili su ekonomske disparitete među državama članicama Unije i testirali koheziju tog bloka. U ovom radu se naglašava činjenica da je sve jača konkurentnost od kritičnog značaja za otpornost EAEU, pri čemu industrijska politika služi kao kamen temeljac tog napora. Primenom trgovinskih indikatora kao što su međuregionalni udeli u trgovini i indeks otvorene komparativne prednosti, u ovoj studiji se ističu nejednaka integracija i zavisnost od izvoza zasnovanog na resursima. U njoj se procenjuje institucionalni okvir industrijske politike EAEU, usredsređujući se istovremeno na usklađivanje subvencija, razvoj industrije dodate vrednosti i koordinisanje nacionalnih i regionalnih prioriteta. Uprkos upornim institucionalnim slabostima i spoljašnjim pritiscima, nalazi do kojih se u ovoj studiji došlo ukazuju na to da bi podsticanje modernizacije industrije i ostvarivanje bolje sinergije domaćih politika i regionalnih ambicija mogli da pospeše otpornost tog bloka i njegovu globalnu konkurentnost.