Level Of International Competitiveness Research Articles

Research on the Evolution and Innovation of Guangdong Province's Business Environment from a Digital Perspective

This study, conducted against the backdrop of current digital development, systematically analyzes and discusses the status quo, problems, and countermeasures of the business environment in Guangdong Province. It reviews and critiques both domestic and international research on the definition of the business environment, the relationship between digitalization and the business environment, and the factors influencing the digitalization of the business environment. A comprehensive analysis of the internationalized business environment of Guangdong Province is presented, showcasing its advantages and characteristics in terms of digital infrastructure, digital technology innovation, and data element circulation, while also pointing out existing deficiencies and challenges. These serve as a reference for further optimization of the business environment. The article concludes by exploring and suggesting innovative pathways for Guangdong Province's internationalized business environment, proposing a series of specific measures and plans to enhance digital innovation leadership capabilities and create a digitally empowered business environment. The aim is to promote the digital transformation and upgrading of Guangdong Province's business environment, thereby improving its level of digital development and international competitiveness.

Cross-Cultural Training and the Performance of American Expatriates in Nigeria

Due to the increased level of international competition, expatriates must continue their cross-cultural training because international jobs are likely to require more frequent cross-border job shifts and assignments. Thus, this study looked into how American expatriates working in Nigeria are affected by cross-cultural training. The study's specific goal was to investigate how language training and cultural sensitivity training affected American expatriates' performance in Nigeria. Survey design was used in the study. 89 American expatriates from seven American companies in Nigeria contributed data for the study. A questionnaire was chosen as the main tool for collecting first-hand information. The multiple regression analysis t-values and p-values were used to analyze the impact of independent factors on the dependent variable. The test's outcome demonstrated that cultural sensitivity and language instruction both have a major favorable impact on American expatriates' performance in Nigeria. Given the stark differences in culture between Nigeria and the United States, this study suggests that cross-cultural training is a strong predictor of American expatriates' performance in Nigeria. It is also recommended that this topic be tested in cultural contexts other than American and Nigerian in future studies.

A synergetic approach to the development of the economic potential of the aviation complex enterprises

The potential of aviation enterprises makes it possible to increase the volume of development and production of aviation equipment, in particular: regional passenger and transport aircraft; aircraft engines and units; on-board radio-electronic equipment aimed at the use of satellite communication, navigation and observation systems; helicopters and general aviation aircraft, including unmanned ones; military goods and dual-use products. It is substantiated that the harmonization of the modern system of state regulation of the integration of the foreign trade sector of Ukraine into the EU should be carried out based on the fact that the parties have excellent reasons for forming an integration association. The consistent implementation of worldview and methodological procedures for maximizing the use of potential is, first of all, a tool for overcoming the low level of economic development, efforts through unification to create better conditions for the industrialization and development of aviation enterprises, the possibility of qualitative transformation of the foreign trade sector by attracting foreign investments and high technologies. This approach should contribute to the fundamental restructuring and diversification of export supplies, increase the opportunities to use positive development trends, and increase the level of international competitiveness of domestic economic entities. The results of the diagnostics of aviation enterprises made it possible to reveal the expediency of forming a new structure of interaction of enterprises and systematizing them into an aviation complex, which is considered as a set of organizations involved in the development, testing, production, sale, operation, modernization and repair of aviation equipment, which form several interconnected clusters.

우리나라 무역수지를 활용한 국제경쟁력 변동요인에 대한 연구

Purpose - Although the industrial importance of the copyright is increasing, and its significance is being highlighted both domestically and internationally, statistics related to copyright are still insufficient, resulting in a lack of research in this field. In this study, we examine the characteristics of the import-export structure through trends in South Korea’s copyright industry trade balance.
 Design/Methodology/Approach - In order to confirm the potential of Korea’s copyright industry as a growth engine in the global market between 2010 and 2021, indicators such as the Trade Specialization Index (TSI), Contribution to the Trade Balance (CTB), and Intra-Industry Trade Index (GL Index) were used to determine Korea’s level of international competitiveness in the copyright industry, which was objectively identified.
 Findings - In the Trade Specialization Index (TSI), the copyright industry shifted to export specialization in 2015, and in the Contribution to Balance of Trade (CBT), the competitiveness of the copyright industry was strengthened from a comparative disadvantage industry to a comparative advantage industry. In the GL Index, the proportion of intra-industry transactions in the copyright industry increased from 2010 to 2021.
 Research Implications - It can be seen that tailored strategies by country and genre are necessary to activate the copyright industry. Despite high market potential in all countries due to the spread of K-culture, it is necessary to provide characteristics and support measures tailored to each country through clear comparisons and evaluations.

International tax competition as an element of the country’s marketing strategy

In the conditions of permanent capital outflow and business registration by residents in other jurisdictions, the issue of developing a country’s marketing strategies for doing business and identifying the most effective mechanisms for increasing international tax attractiveness is urgent. The prerequisite of these processes should be the determination of the level of international tax competitiveness followed by identifying the most significant factors of its growth. The purpose of the study is to assess the level of international tax competitiveness as an element of marketing strategies of Ukraine and some EU countries during 2011–2021. The methodological tools are correlation-regression analysis, the Fisher method, and the multiplicative convolution method. The paper assessed the level of international tax competitiveness as a comprehensive indicator that considers procedural, institutional, moral-ethical, and economic components. The calculations showed that the most competitive are the tax systems of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Croatia, Finland, the Czech Republic, and Hungary. Based on hierarchical and non-hierarchical (k-means method) clustering, 3 clusters of regions were identified. For each of them, based on an analysis of the features of the tax system construction and the comparison of marginal and average values, the criteria for the identification of competing countries and those with common development trends were formed. This makes it possible to determine the most effective mechanisms for the implementation of marketing strategies reforming tax policy from the point of view of increasing its international tax attractiveness. AcknowledgmentThe study is funded by the EU NextGenerationEU through the Recovery and Resilience Plan for Slovakia under the project No. 09I03-03-V01-00042.The authors are grateful to the participants of projects “National security of Ukraine through the prevention of financial fraud and money laundering: war and post-war challenges” (2023–2025, state registration number: 0123U101945) and “De-shadowing and regulatory efficiency of environmental taxation: optimization modelling to ensure national security and rational use of nature” (2022–2024, registration number 0122U000777) for numerous discussions and comments.

Технологическая многоукладность лесопромышленного комплекса России: прошлое и настоящее

The raw material model of Russia’s economy does not provide a suitable level of citizen wellbeing or international competitiveness. The sanctions have enabled the timber industry of Russia to develop by creating its own technologies and production facilities. However, the development is complicated by lack of qualified personnel, modern equipment, and reliable information about the composition of forests, etc. The article considers switching from an export-raw material to an innovative model of the timber industry development in the aspect of transitioning to a new technological paradigm. The purpose of the article is to analyze timber industry’s possibilities of transitioning to the 6th technological paradigm, as well as difficulties associated with this transition. The authors highlight timber industry complex formation stages in the technological paradigm levels context. The Russian timber industry complex is multistructural due to relying on 3rd, 4th and 5th technological paradigms. Therefore, in order to transition to a new technological paradigm, it is necessary to train highly qualified personnel, construct full-cycle processing timber chemical plants that use advanced technologies and take into account the green economy principles, etc.

Rethinking the international competitiveness of olive oil in Spain and Chile: governance of sustainable practices

Abstract The international competitiveness of agri-food products is crucial for the economic growth of exporting countries, which is also closely related to critical aspects of sustainable development. This research aims to comprehensively understand the factors of international competitiveness in two contrasting cases: Spain as the world’s leading exporter and Chile as an emerging exporter of olive oil. This study takes a novel approach by including the governance of sustainable practices as part of the framework for analyzing international competitiveness. A mixed research method was used: firstly, quantitative indicators were estimated to compare the levels of international competitiveness of both countries; secondly, a qualitative analysis was carried out to analyze in depth the determinants of international competitiveness based on Porter’s Diamond Model. The results show that Spain has solidified its position as the world’s leading olive oil exporter. On the other hand, Chile still has a small market share; however, it already achieved its revealed comparative advantage in 2015. The potential causes of this performance were determined by the comparative study of the determinants of the competitiveness of Porter’s diamond model; “Factor conditions”, “Demand conditions”, “Firm strategy, structure, and rivalry”, “Related and supporting industries”, “Government” and “Chance”. In addition, both countries show the adoption of sustainable practices in their exports driven by subsidy policies, informal conventions, and consumer preferences. Finally, some relevant implications for management and public policy are highlighted.

The economic fitness of nations in value added. 2000–2014

In this paper, we explore the Economic Fitness (EF) indicator from the World Bank Database that measures the nations level of international competitiveness. At the same time, using input–output tables, we present our estimations of this new metric, replacing the revealed comparative advantages (RCA) from exports in gross value with an estimate of RCA from exports in domestic value-added (DVA). We find that between 1995 and 2015, there is a positive relationship between Economic Fitness and per capita GDP for low and middle-income countries. Besides, we also show that the estimations of the EF using the domestic value-added content of exports changed significantly from 2000 to 2014 since there has been a widening gap between global exports in gross value and exports in value-added. The latter suggests that, given the increasing levels of productive links at the international level, the competitiveness of nations is also conditioned by how they participate in global production networks.

Changes in the Nature of Innovation Processes and International Competitiveness of the Region After the Covid-19 Crisis: The Case of Podlaskie Voivodeship

Abstract Technological structure arises as a consequence of innovation processes, encompassing R&D activities, implementations, as well as diffusion. Innovation processes influence technological competitiveness by linking changes in market shares at home and abroad with their technological potential. Increased productivity resulting from higher innovativeness combined with increased technological investments result in changes in relative unit operating costs and higher demand for more technologically advanced products, thus determining the dynamics of economic development. The aim of this study is to analyse the course of determinants of innovation processes and the level of international competitiveness of regions after the COVID-19 crisis, including especially Podlaskie Voivodeship. Regions are classified into three types of exposure (low, medium, high) and crossed with three degrees of risk sensitivity for the regional economy. Podlaskie Voivodeship has medium exposure and lower sensitivity to pandemic crises. Regions with relatively high sensitivity and exposure to COVID-19 lockdowns were motivated to make greater changes in business processes. Podlaskie Voivodeship relies highly on foreign trade, which is why the COVID-19 crisis, the war in Ukraine and limited contacts with Poland’s eastern border have negatively affected the region’s innovation. The analysis shows that the establishment of competitive advantages based on the effects of COVID-19 crises should be expanded by regions with medium or high sensitivity to lockdowns.

INNOVATIVE ASPECTS OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF SMES: EXPERIENCE OF THE EU AND UKRAINE

Innovations and their use in the competitive struggle, both at the level of national economies and at the level of enterprises, are undoubtedly becoming the main driver of development in modern conditions. This goal can only be achieved through a profound technological re-equipment of scientific, technical and productive potential, which requires an intensification of investment activity in the economy. The latter is a necessary condition for ensuring sustainable growth and strengthening the competitive advantages of national economies in global markets through their modernisation and technical reconstruction. That is why, at the present stage, the only way to develop the world economy to meet the global challenges and increase the level of international competitiveness is to create an innovation and investment economy. However, many factors hinder such development in European countries, and certainly in Ukraine. It is particularly difficult to implement innovations in the small and medium-sized business sector. The reasons for this gap include the low interest of the financial sector and large companies in financing small and microenterprises, underdeveloped mechanisms for cross-sectoral capital flows, and weak levers to stimulate the introduction of high-technology, high-cost innovations for small and microenterprises. As a result, innovation does not become a means of enhancing the competitiveness of the economy. The purpose of the article is to summarise theoretical approaches and practical aspects of determining methods and instruments of regulation of economic development of innovations in the sector of small and microbusinesses in Ukraine. The article is also aimed at a comparative analysis of foreign experience of state regulation of modernisation transformations in the economy on an innovative basis and at making proposals for their implementation in Ukraine. This study uses the methodology of interdisciplinary science. The theoretical underpinning is based on the content analysis of research by scholars from different countries, the integration of interdisciplinary knowledge and the integration of heterogeneous characteristics into one system. This has allowed certain results to be formulated, substantiated and conclusions to be drawn. In particular, the comparative analysis of the development of innovation in SMEs, the identification of trends in the development of small and microenterprises in Ukraine under martial law, the determination of the role of innovation in the post-war economic recovery of Ukraine, and the consideration of methods of regulating the implementation of innovation in SMEs in the EU. The global paradigm of the European Union's "new innovation perspective" is that by implementing active policies to promote innovation and new knowledge, EU member states are contributing to the fact that regional policy, which used to be redistributive in nature, is increasingly taking on the features of a structural innovation policy. The synergistic effect is achieved by combining the member states' own national innovation strategies and their participation in supranational, pan-European innovation programmes. At the same time, a feature of recent years is that the EU supranational institutions prefer to assist regions not through direct funding, but by motivating the development of their innovation infrastructure as part of the development of innovation policy. The development of innovative activities should become a tool for strengthening cooperation with other countries and Ukraine's entry into the global innovation community. Participation in international innovation programmes, projects and conferences will facilitate the exchange of experience and technologies between countries, as well as attract foreign investors to Ukraine. Cooperation between the state, business and research institutions will be the basis for creating an innovative ecosystem in Ukraine. Efficient use of national resources and potential, attraction of talented professionals and start-ups, which will contribute to economic development and improve living standards, will ensure the creation of a favourable environment for innovation activities of small and microbusinesses.

ГЛОБАЛЬНЕ ПОЗИЦІОНУВАННЯ КИТАЙСЬКОЇ ЕКОНОМІКИ: БЕЗПЕКОВИЙ АСПЕКТ

Досліджені зміни в глобальному позиціонуванні китайської економіки стали результатом визначних і тривалих успіхів країни в забезпеченні високої динаміки розвитку економіки, досягнення кардинальних структурних змін і високого рівня міжнародної конкурентоспроможності, який дає можливість Китаю кинути прямий виклик позиціям провідних центрів світової економіки, представленим США і ЄС, і претендувати на роль альтернативного центру формування глобального порядку. Це зумовлює істотне загострення конкурентної боротьби і суперечностей між Китаєм і Заходом, створює підґрунтя для загальної глобальної дестабілізації. Загострення глобальної конкуренції між Китаєм і провідними центрами Заходу веде до поширення обмежувальних торговельних та інвестиційних заходів у низці важливих сфер економіки, підвищує рівень комерційних та інвестиційних ризиків, зумовлює руйнування глобальних ланцюгів створення вартості й посилює прагнення багатонаціональних компаній до релокації своїх виробництв за межі Китаю. У свою чергу, це стимулює процес переорієнтації китайської політики економічного розвитку на якісні параметри і перехід від надмірної орієнтації на експорт до більш збалансованого розвитку економіки. Водночас це заохочує його до просування альтернативної моделі глобалізації на основі концепції «єдиної долі людства» в поєднанні із задіянням потужного механізму інвестиційного і фінансового проникнення в різні регіони світу, формування своєї зони економічного і політичного впливу. Подальші глобальні перспективи Китаю багато в чому залежатимуть від його здатності стати реальним світовим технологічним лідером в умовах швидкого поширення новітніх інформаційних, біо- і нанотехнологій. Суттєве загострення конфліктів Китаю із Заходом створюватиме несприятливе середовище для розвитку світової економіки, вирішення ключових глобальних проблем людства, породжуватиме низку глобальних безпекових ризиків. До того ж, це потребуватиме активізації зусиль щодо знаходження нових інституційних форматів для забезпечення балансу інтересів серед ключових учасників світового господарства.

Assessing the competitiveness of solar photovoltaic products in comprehensive and progressive agreement for trans-pacific partnership countries.

Solar PV enables the conversion of solar energy into electricity and has become a clean energy technology for economic development. The advantages and disadvantages of solar photovoltaic vary among CPTPP member nations; nevertheless, since the CPTPP's implementation, fewer researchers have evaluated the member countries' solar photovoltaic goods' level of international competitiveness. In order to correct the flaw that the RCA index can only be studied from trade volume, this study adopts the IRCA index method and the revised CMS model, which integrates a number of variables to analyze the competitiveness of solar photovoltaic in each country. The study's findings indicate that: (1) the structural effect has a significant impact on export growth, particularly during the epidemic period, when Australia's contribution rate reached 106.58%; (2) the competitiveness effect has a lesser impact on export growth, and the epidemic led to a decline in competitiveness, with Japan's contribution rate reaching -262.85%; (3) the second-order effect has a declining trend in its contribution rate of export growth; (4) the export competitiveness of solar PV products differs between CPTPP countries, with power supply products having the most export competitiveness and solar cells having a steady comparative advantage in a weaker state. Apart than Japan, the remaining nations' comparative advantages for PV products are less than 1. Based on the above research findings, this paper puts forward the corresponding policy recommendations.

The application of association rule algorithm in vocational English teaching

English teaching in higher vocational colleges is the basic content of modern education management. Under the development trend of economic globalization, facing increasingly fierce competition in the social environment, English teaching can improve the level of international competition and cultivate more excellent technical talents for urban construction and development. Especially after China's accession to the World Trade Organization, with the continuous expansion of economic construction and cultural publicity and opening-up, how to use English education to compete on the international stage has become the focus of education scholars in the new era. Therefore, after understanding the problems and challenges faced by English teaching in higher vocational colleges, this paper, based on the basic concepts of data mining technology and association rules algorithm, mainly studies the evaluation system of English teaching in higher vocational colleges with association rules algorithm as the core, and verifies the application effect of association rules algorithm combined with practical cases, in order to provide favorable conditions for improving the quality of classroom teaching.

The Impact of the Digital Economy on International Trade, the Case of Egypt for the Period (1990-2020(

Recent economic changes in technology and information have led to reliance on newer technologies to keep pace with the rapid development occurring worldwide in all the different economic sectors called the digital economy. Therefore, the digital economy is considered one of the main pillars on which it depends greatly in the present and future times because it contributes to the development of the country's domestic product and thus improving its international trade at the level of international competition because it is a knowledge economy that relies mainly on technology and its advanced means. Therefore, international trade trends changed in light of the digital economy, so modern theories were formulated and developed in line with the transformations that occurred in modern international trade. The digital economy merged with international trade, leading to a clear discrepancy between all countries, each according to its circumstances. It led the developed countries to move towards new patterns in production, international competition and the division of international labor, which created new advantages in international trade in light of the digital economy. The research aims to identify the impact of the digital economy on international trade, the case of Egypt over the past three decades, and the variation of its impact in light of the new economic trends and their requirements, as well as the legal analysis.

A Comparison of the International Competitiveness of Forest Products in Top Exporting Countries Using the Deviation Maximization Method with Increasing Uncertainty in Trading

Increased uncertainty in the trade environment has become a reality. However, so far, there is no well-established indicator system to quantify the international competitiveness of forest products in the context of increased uncertainty in the trade environment. Based on expanding the concept of international competitiveness, we constructed an evaluation indicator system of international competitiveness including market performance and competitive advantage, which highlighted market stability and market sustainability indicators. We obtained a comprehensive international competitiveness index of the forest products by Deviation Maximization Method. This study aims to compare and evaluate the international competitiveness of forest products in the top 10 exporting countries using a comprehensive international competitiveness index. The results showed that it is more accurate and comprehensive to use the comprehensive international competitiveness index to evaluate the international competitiveness of forest products, compared to using only a single index. Additionally, the changes to the composite index of international competitiveness went hand-in-hand with the uncertainties the observed countries face, indicating that the indicator system is applicable to the measurement of international competitiveness in an uncertain environment. Large differences exist in the level of international competitiveness of forest products among observed countries. German paper products and wood chips, Chinese wood furniture, wood-based panels and wood products, U.S. logs and wood pulp, and Canadian sawn wood were the most competitive. On the whole, China, Germany and Italy have the highest level of overall international competitiveness in forest products, with Brazil and Poland showing the most significant increases.

ВПЛИВ ТРАНСНАЦІОНАЛЬНИХ КОРПОРАЦІЙ НА ЕКОНОМІЧНИЙ СВІТОГЛЯД В УМОВАХ КОНКУРЕНТНОГО ПРОТИСТОЯННЯ

In the conditions of rapid development of globalization processes and competition in the world economic space, TNC has a significant impact on the economic outlook of society. The activities of many transnational corporations not only allow states to develop economically, but also such processes contribute to the solution of a large number of problems at the social level: environmental protection, development of medicine, improvement of education, increase in quality of life. Over time, TNCs change the economic worldview, therefore it is necessary to conduct a timely study of the activities of these companies in the conditions of modern competitive confrontation in order to identify the prospects of their management. The aim of the article is to analyze the state of transnational corporations and research their impact on the economic outlook in the conditions of modern competitive confrontation. Methodological basis of research was logical methods of information processing, statistical analysis, methods of system analysis, comparison. The basic hypothesis of research was the assumption that the efficiency of the national economy, economic outlook, level of integration and international competitiveness depend on the success of TNCs, because they are the largest players in the world economy. Presentation of the main material. The dynamics of TNC development are analyzed. It was determined that the geographical structure of TNCs is gradually changing in today's conditions. It has been studied that financial companies have gained clear advantages over industrial corporations in the competitive struggle, which as a result has a significant impact on the development of the economic outlook. Originality and practical meaningfulness of research. It is advisable to use the conducted research to increase the international competitiveness of the national economy by using the investment activities of TNCs in the conditions of deepening globalization. Conclusions. The state and the corporation are global "institutions" that have developed in various branches of the global economy and in various historical periods of the formation of the economic outlook. Both institutions can serve for the benefit of the population and contribute to its prosperity, or they can take destructive steps, not based on the concepts of morality and law.

ІНВЕСТИЦІЙНЕ ЗАБЕЗПЕЧЕННЯ РОЗВИТКУ ІННОВАЦІЙНИХ ТЕХНОЛОГІЙ

The article analyzes the essence of the categories "innovations" and "investments" and the peculiarities of approaches of representatives of different scientific schools to understanding these concepts. The were considered the interpretations of the studied categories by international institutions and those given in the legislative acts of Ukraine. Taking into account the interconnection of investments with innovations it has been substantiated the need to analyze the concepts of "investments in innovations" and "investments in innovative technologies". The high level of international competition in the market of innovative technologies and the practical non-alternative nature of the innovative development path determine the particular importance, except for the choice of ways and methods of creation and implementation, identifying priority sources of investment in innovative technologies. Investments in innovative technologies should be viewed as a resource base for the implementation of innovative activities, a certain limited or insufficient level of quality of which does not allow to form an effective mechanism for the efficient use of new technologies. The investment resource that ensures the creation and diffusion of new technologies is associated with a number of additional features of the innovation and investment process. It were considered the factors influencing investments in innovative technologies and the existing forms of investment in the creation and implementation of innovative technologies; determined the expediency of using alternative sources of investment – venture capital investment, financial support of business angels, business incubators and business accelerators, crowdfunding and crowdsourcing. It was analyzed the "Investment" indicators presented in the European Innovation Scoreboard 2023 and concludes that the vast majority of European countries – innovation leaders are characterized by an increase in the "Investment" indicators for the period of 2016–2023, primarily due to an increase in the use of venture capital. However, in recent years, there is a tendency for investment activity to decrease in many countries due to the effects of the pandemic and the worsening macroeconomic situation. Factors such as russia's invasion of Ukraine, the energy crisis, inflation, etc. may have a negative impact on innovation efficiency. Ukraine, like all countries whose innovation level is lower than the EU average, needs to revise the concept of scientific and technological development to overcome the inhibiting processes in this area.

РОЗВИТОК АРХІТЕКТУРИ ЛОГІСТИЧНОЇ МЕРЕЖІ МІЖНАРОДНОЇ КОНКУРЕНТОСПРОМОЖНОСТІ СУБ’ЄКТІВ ГОСПОДАРЮВАННЯ

The article posits that a well-developed logistics network is pivotal in ensuring business efficiency in the current context of economic globalization and escalating competition. The author’s central hypothesis is that the logistics network’s architecture is instrumental in realizing the competitive advantages of a business. The article aims to develop theoretical and methodological foundations for constructing and optimizing the architecture of a logistics network within production cooperation, focusing on achieving a specified level of international competitiveness for business entities. The modeling of the logistics network architecture is based on the ArchiMate meta-model. The selection of elements for the architectural model is derived from the harmonized application of market, resource, and institutional concepts to gain competitive advantages. The model of logistics flow movement is presented as a component of the synergy between structural and functional approaches to understanding competitive behavior. These logistics flows are tools for realizing a business entity’s dynamic capabilities in the international market environment. A distinct advantage of ArchiMate lies in offering diverse perspectives on a single corporate architecture model. To demonstrate this advantage, two architectural models were developed. The first model elucidates establishing a list of dynamic capabilities of the logistics network as a basis for international competitiveness. The international aspect is introduced through the architectural element of location, tied to the institutional characteristics of the network node’s geographic area. This model aligns with the Business Capability Map concept and does not contradict the TOGAF standard. The developed architectural model substantiates the author’s hypothesis that competitiveness ensures the value the logistics network delivers to the market. It also illustrates the connection between business capabilities and the system of constraints defined as rules for conducting logistics activities. The second architectural model depicts the movement of logistics flows organized to implement one of the previously introduced business capabilities. It further reveals corporate architecture through the interconnection of logistics system components. The model provides characteristics of modularity, necessary for achieving the desired level of corporate architecture adaptability. The existence of these developed models facilitates various architectural decision-making processes. For example, a component is highlighted to determine the parameters of corporate control distribution.

An Empirical Study on the International Competitiveness of China's Manufacturing Industry

The manufacturing industry is the stabilizer of a country's national economy. The level of international competitiveness of the manufacturing industry determines the strength of a country's international competitiveness to a certain extent. Based on the relevant data from 30 China's provinces and cities from 2013-2021, this paper measures the international competitiveness of China's manufacturing industry by using factor analysis to form a comprehensive index of four single indexes measuring international competitiveness. The results show that the international competitiveness of China's manufacturing industry shows a geographical distribution pattern of "strong in the east and weak in the west." Based on the empirical findings, policy recommendations are proposed to improve the international competitiveness of China's manufacturing industry.

PRELIMINARY CONFIRMATORY FACTOR ANALYSIS OF THE SERBIAN VERSION OF THE ORIGINAL SPORT MOTIVATION SCALE (SMS-28)

Self-determination theory is a dominant conceptual frame in the research of sports motivation, while the original Sport motivation scale, SMS-28, is adapted in many languages. The aim of this research was to translate and adapt the original scale into the Serbian language and to conduct a preliminary factor analysis in order to confirm a seven-factor solution. The sample included 608 active athletes on an international, national or lower competition level in different individual or team sports, of both genders, with a Median value for age of 18 years, an average of 10 years of sports experience. The results indicated good internal consistency of the Serbian version (Mean alpha 0.86), with only an amotivation subscale with a low alpha value (0.54). A simplex pattern of the self-determination continuum was confirmed. The confirmatory factor analysis suggested some good fit indices (X2/df=4.26; SRMR=0.07; RMSEA=0.07; GFI=0.85; AGFI=0.81), while some indices did not meet the criteria of good model fit (CFI=0.81; NFI=0.77). We suggest further research should examine the scale on a more homogeneous sample in regard to competition level. Key words: motivation, sport motivation scale, intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, factor analysis