Economic Competitiveness Research Articles (Page 1)

This research is motivated by the importance of business licensing in the trade of goods and services sector as an instrument of legality, supervision, and legal protection; however, its implementation still faces gaps between normative regulations and practices in the field. The purpose of this study is to analyze the level of business actors’ compliance with licensing obligations, identify obstacles in the implementation of risk-based licensing policies, and evaluate their impact on compliance. The method used is library research with a normative juridical approach, through an examination of primary legal materials in the form of laws and related regulations, as well as secondary and tertiary legal materials from scientific literature. The results show that the effectiveness of risk-based licensing policies has not been optimally achieved due to low legal literacy, limited digital understanding, and the perception that licenses are merely a formality, causing many business actors to neglect administrative obligations. This condition illustrates the existence of a gap between regulatory objectives and implementation practices. These findings emphasize the need for procedural simplification, intensified socialization, and strengthened technical assistance so that licensing policies become more responsive to the needs of business actors, while simultaneously encouraging compliance and enhancing national economic competitiveness.

In the contemporary international system evolving toward multipolarity where economic competition tools intertwine with security policies, analyzing mechanisms through which economic power parameters shape foreign policy capacity holds critical importance. This research examines how gross domestic product, foreign trade volume, foreign exchange reserves, foreign direct investment, and technology production capability transform into diplomatic effectiveness. The study develops an original theoretical framework synthesizing structural realism, interdependence theory, and structural power theory, explaining the multilayered nature of the economic power-foreign policy relationship. This synthesis enables comprehensive understanding of material resources, relational asymmetry, and structural control dimensions. Employing systematic document analysis within qualitative research paradigm, content analysis of twenty-two fundamental sources and comparative examination of five critical cases were conducted. Methodological reliability was confirmed with Cohen's Kappa coefficient of zero point eighty-six. Findings demonstrate that six fundamental mechanisms confirm the hypothesis at an average rate of ninety-four point five percent (ranging from ninety-two to ninety-eight percent): creating economic influence through trade agreements, increasing voting weight in international financial institutions, strengthening alliances through strategic investments, enhancing bargaining power in negotiations, economic dependency limiting autonomy, and vulnerability to sanctions. US-Iran, China Belt-Road, Germany-Russia, Japan-Southeast Asia, and Saudi Arabia cases concretize geopolitical transformation of economic tools across diverse contexts. The study reveals that economic power stems from structural control capacity rather than material resources, economic dependency systematically limits strategic autonomy, and technological transformation redefines traditional parameters. Digital economy, artificial intelligence, and climate change necessitate updating the concept of economic power. The research transcends fragmented approaches in literature by offering an integrated analytical model and proposing trade diversification, technological independence, strategic reserve strengthening, and regional integration deepening strategies for preserving economic autonomy. Findings are supported by short, medium, and long-term policy recommendations, providing applicable tools for states to minimize economic vulnerabilities.

Abstract Integration of various electricity-generating technologies (such as natural gas, wind, nuclear, etc.) with storage systems (such as thermal, battery electric, hydrogen, etc.) has the potential to improve the economic competitiveness of modern energy systems. Driven by the need to efficiently assess the economic feasibility of various energy system configurations in early system concept development, this work outlines a versatile computational framework for assessing the net present value of various integrated storage technologies. The subsystems' fundamental dynamics are defined, with a particular emphasis on balancing critical physical and economic domains to enable optimal decision-making in the context of capacity and dispatch optimization. In its presented form, the framework formulates a linear, convex optimization problem that can be efficiently solved using a direct transcription approach in the open-source software DTQP. Three case studies demonstrate and validate the framework's capabilities, highlighting its value and computational efficiency in facilitating the economic assessment of various energy system configurations. In particular, natural gas with thermal storage and carbon capture, wind energy with battery storage, and nuclear with hydrogen are demonstrated.

Digital skills represent a key dimension of digital transformation, shaping the innovation potential, competitiveness, and long-term sustainability of the European economy. The aim of this paper is to compare the development of digital skills in EU-27 countries from 2018 to 2024 and identify the strengths and weaknesses within the European context. The analysis is based on secondary data from the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI). From the total of 36 indicators included in DESI, 12 variables were selected, with an emphasis on 3 core digital-skills metrics: Internet use, ICT specialists, and ICT graduates. To assess their interrelationships and linkages with overall digital transformation performance, non-parametric correlation analyses (Kendall’s Tau and Spearman’s rank correlation) were applied. Furthermore, across-year nonparametric tests (Friedman ANOVA with Kendall’s coefficient of concordance, W) were used to evaluate year-to-year differences and the stability of country rankings over 2018–2024. The empirical results confirmed that higher levels of digital skills are associated with stronger digital transformation performance among EU member states, while significant cross-country disparities persist. Germany and the Nordic economies (Finland, Sweden, and Denmark) achieved the best results, while Southern and Eastern European countries such as Bulgaria, Portugal, and Greece lagged behind. These findings highlight the strategic role of digital education, ICT specialization, and lifelong learning initiatives in promoting sustainable digital transformation and competitiveness across Europe. In addition, panel regression analysis confirmed that digital infrastructure, particularly FTTP coverage and Very High Capacity Networks, is a key driver of digital skills development, whereas the effects of business digitalization appear indirect or delayed. The outcomes provide relevant implications for broadband deployment and user-centric digital public services to support the objectives of the EU Digital Decade 2030. The study contributes to a deeper understanding of the determinants of digital skills and digital transformation performance, providing evidence-based guidance for targeted digital policies aimed at reducing the digital divide and strengthening digital transformation performance within the European Union.

Abstract Green hydrogen has the potential to address two critical challenges in a zero-carbon energy system: balancing seasonal variability of solar and wind in the electricity sector, and replacing fossil fuels in hard-to-electrify sectors. In this study, focusing on China, we deploy a provincial-scale energy system planning and operation model to examine the technical and cost-optimal potential of green hydrogen to fully remove carbon-based fuels in the electricity and hard-to-electrify sectors by 2050. Our results show that green hydrogen infrastructure can enable more cost-effective decarbonization of both the electricity and hard-to-electrify sectors. First, in the zero-carbon electricity sector alone, utilizing green hydrogen as long-duration storage enables a 17% reduction in the electricity-only cost (ZE scenario) relative to one without hydrogen. However, cost savings hinge on the availability of underground hydrogen storage. Second, coupling the electricity and hard-to-electrify sectors by sharing green hydrogen infrastructure reduces the combined energy system cost by 6% compared to a decoupled energy system. Third, the coupled energy system also makes green hydrogen comparable to fossil fuel-based gray and blue hydrogen costs in China. Allocating the entire savings realized in the coupled energy system to just the hydrogen used as fuel/feedstock in hard-to-electrify sectors yields a 24% reduction in the hydrogen-only cost relative to the cost under the decoupled system. Last, coupling hydrogen infrastructure between electricity and hard-to-electrify sectors yields a substantially different spatial pattern of hydrogen production. In the decoupled energy system, 80% of hydrogen demand in electricity and hard-to-electrify sectors is produced locally within the same provinces, but the coupled energy system cuts local production to 30%, shifting production to high renewable energy generating provinces. Understanding the spatial patterns of optimal hydrogen infrastructure siting will help plan an integrated electricity and hydrogen system that can cost-effectively decarbonize multiple sectors and China’s broader economy.

This article presents an in-depth economic evaluation of multisport flooring facilities, with a specific focus on ASB GlassFloor products and their financial feasibility in the context of Bulgaria’s transitional economy. The study applies the calculation method and linear depreciation to determine the total cost, profitability, and payback period of a standard basketball court with an area of 420 m², adaptable for multiple sports, including volleyball, tennis, handball, and small-goal football. By analyzing direct and indirect costs, as well as profit margins and VAT implications, the research demonstrates that the total investment of approximately 2 million BGN achieves a payback period of 3.76 years, aligning with the target threshold of 4 years. The findings underscore the importance of optimizing cost structures, adopting innovative flooring technologies, and integrating multifunctional features to enhance both economic efficiency and market competitiveness. Beyond financial outcomes, the analysis highlights the role of innovative sports infrastructure—such as the ASB LumiFlex system—in shaping new standards for multifunctionality, sustainability, and user experience in contemporary sports facilities. This study not only contributes to the evaluation of investment efficiency but also situates modern sports infrastructure projects within broader discussions of innovation, competitiveness, and sustainable economic growth.

Competition law aims to promote fair market practices and prevent monopolistic behaviour, while political economy explores the relationship between economic systems and political institutions. Together, these disciplines shape the regulatory frameworks that oversee national markets and economic policies, encouraging competition and tackling issues such as inequality and market inefficiencies. In developing countries, the influence of political economy tends to be more significant than in developed nations, which usually benefit from more stable democratic institutions and stronger legal systems. Among ASEAN member states (AMS), there is notable variation in levels of economic development, policies, political structures, and legal frameworks. Consequently, each AMS’s unique political and legal history has influenced its approach to economic management and competition law, leading to distinct priorities and concerns. These political economy factors similarly impact the process of regional competition law integration among ASEAN countries. This paper explores how political economy shaped the enactment and enforcement of competition law in selected AMS: Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia. It analyses the underlying reasons for their specific reservations, exemptions, and priorities within their competition law. Using qualitative legal research and comparative analysis, the study reviews relevant political economy structures, statutes, regulations, and policies in the chosen AMS to assess their significance and influence on competition law administration. The findings indicate that ASEAN’s regional competition law alignment and integration must recognise each AMS’s broader internal political economy, which is vital for developing competitive markets within ASEAN.

Market competition in the platform economy: new insights, integrative framework and research agenda

This article examines Jordans implementation of prearrival processing under the World Trade Organizations Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) analysing its alignment with global standards and impact on trade efficiency in a resource constrained trade dependent nation. With trade constituting over 70% of Jordans GDP prearrival processing allowing advance submission of import documentation offers a critical mechanism to enhance economic competitiveness by reducing customs delays and costs. Using a qualitative case study approach informed by the authors consultancy with the EUs Trade and Transport Facilitation Programme (TTFP) and stakeholder interviews, the study explores Jordans prearrival processing framework rooted in the Jordan Customs Law and Proclamation 25. It assesses the systems evolution, low adoption with fewer than ten declarations since 2004 informal practices, and alignment with international standards like the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) Revised Kyoto Convention and TFA. Key challenges include absent digital submission capabilities, unclear regulations, and interagency coordination gaps hindering potential. Despite technical compliance, Jordan lags behind leaders like Singapore and Japan due to procedural complexity and limited stakeholder engagement. The article proposes reforms including digitalization, simplified rules awareness campaigns, and interagency coordination to bridge gaps offering lessons for developing nations seeking to leverage prearrival processing for trade facilitation and economic resilience in a globalized economy.

Estimations of GHG emissions from drained peatlands: Accountability in the trans-border Neman River basin.

This community service program aims to enhance the managerial capacity, financial literacy, and digital competence of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) under the Naik Kelas Bogor initiative through the implementation of a cloud-based accounting system, SILAKU SMART. MSMEs in Bogor contribute significantly to the local economy; however, they still face challenges in accurate bookkeeping, financial reporting, human resource management, and digital marketing. The program was implemented from July to December 2025, with intensive training conducted in September–October 2025, involving MSME participants from various sectors, particularly home-based culinary businesses. The program adopted a systematic approach consisting of socialization, participatory training, cloud application implementation, mentoring, and evaluation. The results showed a significant improvement in participants’ understanding of the cloud-based accounting system, with 70% of participants being highly proficient after the second training session. Moreover, 90% of participants expressed strong confidence in applying cloud accounting, managerial practices, and digital marketing in their businesses. The implementation of SILAKU SMART also enabled real-time transaction recording, automatic financial reporting, and integration with digital marketing features, which enhanced operational efficiency and expanded market reach. This program aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in promoting decent work and economic growth (Goal 8), fostering innovation and infrastructure development (Goal 9), and strengthening partnerships for sustainable development (Goal 17). These findings demonstrate that the combination of digital technology and participatory training can effectively empower MSMEs, enhance business professionalism, and strengthen competitiveness in the digital economy.

Climate change, environmental degradation, and ecosystem destruction demand the adoption of eco-friendly practices in economic activities. Beyond environmental benefits, such practices enhance economic competitiveness, particularly for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). Tanjung Rejo Mangrove Tourism Village in Medan Belawan exemplifies the integration of sustainable tourism with mangrove ecosystem conservation and local economic empowerment through homestays, tour guides, and environmentally-based products. This study evaluates the effectiveness of eco-friendly training for 30 local MSMEs using participatory methods with pre-test and post-test instruments. Results indicate significant improvements across ten indicators (25%-56%), notably in production waste management (56%) and consumer awareness of eco-friendly products (45%). The training successfully catalyzed behavioral transformation toward sustainable business practices, yielding dual impacts on ecosystem preservation and MSME economic competitiveness. Findings demonstrate that structured capacity-building programs can drive collective environmental awareness while strengthening local economies. Recommendations include developing advanced training modules, fostering multi-sector collaboration, and establishing incentive systems for MSMEs consistently implementing eco-friendly practices.

This article analyzes the potential of certified sustainable batik as an effective and ethical response to the global fast fashion crisis in the textile industry. Using a mixed-method approach (qualitative and quantitative SEM-PLS) across Batik MSME clusters in Java, the research finds that the global market highly values the slow process and environmental transparency offered by batik. Results indicate that integrated partnerships between MSMEs and BUMDes in managing the supply of eco-green raw materials and implementing Appropriate Technology (TTG), particularly for waste treatment, are crucial for successful downstreaming (hilirisasi). Policy intervention is needed, such as the formulation of an adaptable Local Batik Standard, to overcome the barriers of global certification costs and promote the adoption of sustainability practices. In conclusion, certified batik is not merely a product innovation, but a future textile business model that balances cultural heritage, environmental conservation, and economic competitiveness.

The cement industry is under constant pressure to reduce its environmental footprint while ensuring economic competitiveness and technological reliability. One of the most effective strategies to achieve this goal is the substitution of traditional raw materials with alternative ones derived from industrial (by)products, waste, or secondary resources. This paper presents a structured methodology for the selection and evaluation of potential raw materials for clinker production. The proposed approach integrates four key criteria: physical compatibility, which determines whether the raw material can be handled by existing processing equipment; chemical compatibility, which ensures compliance with clinker quality requirements; environmental compliance, which assesses adherence to local and international environmental regulations; and economic viability, including the costs of material acquisition, processing, equipment adaptation, and CO2 emissions associated with the raw mix. The research procedure involves initial communication with suppliers, visual inspection of the material, laboratory analysis (chemical and environmental), raw mix modelling, and full economic evaluation. If at any stage the material fails to meet the required criteria, feedback is provided to the supplier, avoiding unnecessary costs and efforts. Results indicate that this integrated methodology offers a systematic and transparent making of decision framework that can accelerate the acceptance of alternative raw materials, improve resource efficiency, and contribute to sustainable cement production.

Solvent-based recycling of PC and ABS from e-waste: Efficiency, economics, emissions reduction, and job opportunities.

This study investigates the key factors influencing the Digital Transformation (DT) of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Vietnam, a sector crucial for national economic development and competitiveness. Drawing from both organizational and technological perspectives, the research identifies drivers, challenges, and success factors related to the adoption of digital tools and processes. Using a quantitative methodology, data were collected via an online survey targeting 321 SMEs owners, managers, and administrators across multiple regions in Vietnam. The analysis, conducted through Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), reveals that leadership competencies, firm size, access to digital infrastructure, and external market pressures are significant determinants of DT success. Additionally, the study highlights the role of DT in enhancing business sustainability through improved operational efficiency, customer engagement, and market reach. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the DT journey within developing economies and offer actionable insights for policymakers and stakeholders aiming to accelerate digital adoption among SMEs in Vietnam.

BACKGROUND This paper examined the influence artificial intelligence (AI) on open government data (OGD) in improving economic transparency and facilitation of competition. MATERIALS AND METHODS The mixed-methods study relied on the contextual assessment and comparative analysis of seven (N = 7) countries: United States, Brazil, Singapore, the European Union (EU), China, India, and Japan, which were elected to provide an equal representation of developed and developing economies. The research is based on a qualitative desk-based comparative policy analysis, focusing on how different national strategies integrate AI and OGD to improve business accountability and performance. RESULTS The contextual analysis revealed that AI-based OGD enabled fast and cost-efficient data processing, which was subsequently used to make strategic decisions, enhancing organizational performance and competitiveness. The case of Singapore suggested that AI-based tools processed up to 3 million transactions daily, while the European Union case stressed that such processing could detect up to USD 2.7 billion in fraudulent activities. The contextual analysis further revealed that OGD policies provided equal access to data, which was particularly helpful for small and medium enterprises that, otherwise, lacked resources to make competitive business decisions. The countries in the sample were further compared in terms of their Artificial Intelligence Maturity Capability Index that included such parameters as AI readiness, AI talent, and AI infrastructure. The comparative analysis revealed that countries differed considerably in terms of their readiness to adopt AI-based solutions in OGD: with the United States having the highest score of 92.4 and Brazil getting the lowest score of 49.85. CONCLUSION Based on the comparative analysis, it was recommended to strengthen existing policies and regulative frameworks, increase investment in digital infrastructure and data ecosystems, and foster public-private partnerships in AI and OGD adaptation. The following recommendations can be used to support the use of AI-based OGD in promoting business transparency and competitiveness.

Purpose The objective of this research is to provide an empirically grounded and theoretically informed analysis of the influence of innovative entrepreneurship management on industrial competitiveness and the international expansion of the food economy within the broader context of global digital transformation. Design/methodology/approach The study employs a conceptual model underpinned by the stimulus–organism–response (SOR) framework, operationalizing four dimensions of entrepreneurial management: opportunity recognition, entrepreneurial ability, entrepreneurial culture and resource management. A robust quantitative methodology is utilized to estimate the relationships between these constructs, industrial competitiveness and internationalization in the food sector. Findings The empirical analysis demonstrates statistically significant and positive associations between each dimension of entrepreneurial management and both industrial competitiveness and international market engagement, thereby validating the proposed conceptual framework. Originality/value This research provides a new model for understanding the role of innovative entrepreneurship in enhancing industrial competitiveness and facilitating internationalization in the food economy. The findings offer strategic insights for food industry stakeholders aiming to strengthen their position in a rapidly digitizing global market.

Blockchain technology is reshaping economic activities globally, with significant potential across healthcare, finance, and supply chain management. Despite regulatory and adoption challenges, it is a disruptive innovation. According to IDC's "2021 V1 Global Blockchain Spending Guide," the global blockchain market is projected to reach $18.95 billion by 2024, with a CAGR of approximately 48.0% during 2020-2024. This study explores the current application status of blockchain technology in the global economy. It integrates SWOT analysis models with case studies and market reports to examine the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges of blockchain technology. Based on economic competition theories such as effective competition theory and Porter's competitive theory, the research analyzes how blockchain can gain advantages in intense market competition. It identifies potential opportunities in the global blockchain market over the next five years from technology, industry, and application scenario perspectives. The study provides a holistic assessment of blockchain's application status, offering valuable insights for policymakers and entrepreneurs.

This article explores the use of technology to provide hospitality at high speed. The requirements of economic competition and achieving profitability underpin the need for speed. Speed, in this article, is viewed as a function of Zygmunt Bauman’s notion of liquid modernity but also points to evidence of solid structures. Solidly positioned corporations set the pace of the speed agenda. Trade journal articles offer insight into the corporate-managed push for technology-driven speed. Themes are noted that relate to ‘fast hospitality’: an overarching concept that blends the desire for speed and liquid relations with the profit-seeking practices of ‘solidly’ entrenched corporate entities. The interplay between Bauman’s notions of solid and liquid is presented as one of contemporaneous connection rather than historical transition. Rather than representing a shift from the liquid to the solid – a notion more consistent with Bauman’s work – ‘fast hospitality’ would appear to be deployed in a way that weaves them together strategically. Such actions help corporations avoid uncertainty as well as address an absence of focus and clear direction: conditions typically associated with liquidity. ‘Fast hospitality’ is a function of solid organizational structures that aim to preserve a rationalized economic order, thus minimizing uncertainty, during liquid modern times.