scholarly journals Global competitiveness divide and the middle-income-trap

Author(s):  
Timothy Yaw Acheampong

In recent times, the middle-income trap (MIT) has become a pertinent issue as economists, researchers and development practitioners continue seek answers to why the majority of middle-income countries find it difficult to advance to high-income status. There is still no consensus in literature as to the exact cause(s) and the solution to the MIT. The World Economic Forum posits that, the score of countries on the Global Competitive Index (GCI) 4.0 accounts for over 80% of the variation in income levels of countries. This suggests that the extent of global competitiveness of countries could potentially help them to escape the MIT. However, some competitiveness literature have identified an apparent competitiveness divide among countries. This paper therefore seeks to answer the following questions: how does middle-income countries differ from the high-income countries in terms of global competitiveness. The study utilises an independent samples t-test and effect size measures to examine the GCI 4.0 scores of 140 countries. The study finds a very large and significant competitiveness divide between the high and middle-income countries.

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-23
Author(s):  
José Antonio Alonso ◽  
José Antonio Ocampo

The chapter discusses the existence of potential economic traps that limit the capacity for middle-income countries (MICs) to converge towards high-income status. It presents an empirical exploration of the two interpretations (absolute and relative) of middle-income traps (MITs) and considers transitions between country categories that occurred during the last three decades. Even if transitions are a rare phenomenon, the authors conclude that evidence is not able to settle the existence of MITs, but it is enough to illustrate the severity of the challenges that MICs face in their development path. The chapter analyses the theoretical arguments offered to justify the presence of these pitfalls, as well as the main policy responses required to overcome them. Even if more analytical work is required, the chapter underlines that the debate around MITs has revitalized reflection on the active policies required to promote growth in MICs. Finally, the chapter presents an overview of the book, underlying the main contributions of each chapter.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-34
Author(s):  
Constanta Popescu ◽  
Radu Serban M. Zaharia

This article describes how competitiveness is a desideratum of any rational management process. Under the conditions of globalization and the imperatives of sustainable development, the need for competitive management at both micro and macroeconomic level is a necessity. Unfortunately, in many areas of economic and social activities in Romania, the authors find a lack of competitiveness in most areas of activity. This places Romania in an unfavorable place in the world hierarchy. Based on these considerations and based on data provided by the World Economic Forum through the Global Competitiveness Report for 2016-2017, this article highlights the place and weaknesses of Romania in the various aspects of competitiveness.


2016 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Chatib Basri ◽  
Sjamsu Rahardja ◽  
Syarifah Namira Fitrania

In the last four decades, Indonesia's economy demonstrated remarkable progress. After the devastating currency crises in 1998–99, growth recovered. With the help of commodity prices, Indonesia has become one of the largest middle-income countries in the world. All of this happened amidst the backdrop of delicate political transformations. It is far from clear, however, whether Indonesia can continue to follow the successful path of other industrialized countries in East Asia. We lay out key issues that are likely to hinder Indonesia's transformation to a high-income country and discuss constraints in policymaking that may require calibrating reform prescription with the new political landscape.


2019 ◽  
pp. 100-104
Author(s):  
E. Dolgikh ◽  
T. Pershina

The study of the labor market allows to determine the main directions of development of the country’s economy, which largely depends on a set of indicators. The article gives detailed characteristics of the components of the labor market efficiency, proposed by the World economic forum in the Report on global competitiveness. Russia’s positions among the world countries according to the importance of the efficiency of the labor market and their dynamics for the period from 2013 to 2017 have been considered. Multidimensional grouping of the world countries according to ten components has been performed, and detailed characteristics of the selected clusters has been given.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rashmi Jaymin Sanchaniya ◽  
◽  
Ineta Geipele ◽  

The paper presents a summary of the literature on the significance and importance of entrepreneurship to economic growth and development. Entrepreneurship has been shown to have been seen to lead to an overall optimistic development in many economic data. There is a general expectation that this inquiry would address the question of whether there is a correlation between the entrepreneurial enterprise and economic growth. In countries with various economic groups, different citizens are classed due to how much wealth they have. The data used in this paper were extracted from the World Bank, the World Entrepreneurship Monitor (WEM) over the last five years, and the World Economic Forum has a Database of Worldwide businesses. However, in low-middle- and middle-income nations, growth-oriented entrepreneurship is associated with economic progress. Analysis of various countries and different levels of economic growth, so it can be claimed that entrepreneurship serves a special position.


2011 ◽  
pp. 4-40
Author(s):  
M. Drzeniek-Hanouz ◽  
A. Prazdnichnykh

The journal version of Chapter 1.1 of "The Russia Competitiveness Report 2011: Laying the Foundation for Sustainable Prosperity" prepared by the World Economic Forum and Eurasia Competitiveness Institute analyzes major problems Russia is faced with in this field. Three advantages and five systemic weaknesses of the country are considered. The analysis on the basis of the Global Competitiveness Index shows that real improvements along these five directions could lead to significant increase in competitiveness and growth of welfare in Russia.


Author(s):  
Odgerel Chimed-Ochir ◽  
Diana Arachi ◽  
Tim Driscoll ◽  
Ro-Ting Lin ◽  
Jukka Takala ◽  
...  

Background: This study compares estimates of the global-level mesothelioma burden with a focus on how existing national mortality data were utilized and further assesses the interrelationship of country-level mesothelioma burden and asbestos use with national income status. Methods: Country-level mesothelioma deaths in the WHO Mortality Database as of December 2019 were analyzed by national income category of countries in terms of data availability and reliability. Numbers of mesothelioma deaths from the study of Odgerel et al. were reanalyzed to assess country-level mesothelioma death burdens by national income status. Results: Among 80 high-income countries, 54 (68%) reported mesothelioma to the WHO and 26 (32%) did not, and among 60 upper middle-income countries, the respective numbers (proportions) were 39 (65%) countries and 21 (35%) countries, respectively. In contrast, among 78 low- and lower middle-income countries, only 11 (14%) reported mesothelioma deaths while 67 (86%) did not. Of the mesothelioma deaths, 29,854 (78%) were attributed to high- and upper middle-income countries, and 8534 (22%) were attributed to low- and lower middle- income countries. Conclusions: The global mesothelioma burden, based on reported numbers, is currently shouldered predominantly by high-income countries; however, mesothelioma burdens will likely manifest soon in upper middle-income and eventually in low and lower middle-income countries.


2008 ◽  
Vol 192 (5) ◽  
pp. 368-375 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johan Ormel ◽  
Maria Petukhova ◽  
Somnath Chatterji ◽  
Sergio Aguilar-Gaxiola ◽  
Jordi Alonso ◽  
...  

BackgroundAdvocates of expanded mental health treatment assert that mental disorders are as disabling as physical disorders, but little evidence supports this assertion.AimsTo establish the disability and treatment of specific mental and physical disorders in high-income and low- and middle-income countries.MethodCommunity epidemiological surveys were administered in 15 countries through the World Health Organization World Mental Health (WMH) Survey Initiative.ResultsRespondents in both high-income and low- and middle-income countries attributed higher disability to mental disorders than to the commonly occurring physical disorders included in the surveys. This pattern held for all disorders and also for treated disorders. Disaggregation showed that the higher disability of mental than physical disorders was limited to disability in social and personal role functioning, whereas disability in productive role functioning was generally comparable for mental and physical disorders.ConclusionsDespite often higher disability, mental disorders are under-treated compared with physical disorders in both high-income and in low- and middle-income countries.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xuejun Yin ◽  
Hueiming Liu ◽  
Jacqui Webster ◽  
Kathy Trieu ◽  
Mark D. Huffman ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND Regular salt is about 100% sodium chloride (NaCl). Low-sodium salts have reduced sodium chloride content, most commonly through substitution with potassium chloride (KCl). Low-sodium salts have a potential role in reducing population sodium intake level and blood pressure, but its availability in global market was unknown. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to assess the availability, formulation, labelling, and price of low-sodium salts currently available to consumers around the world. METHODS Low-sodium salts were identified through a systematic literature review, Google search, online shopping sites search, and inquiry of key informants. The keywords of “salt substitute”, “low-sodium salt”, “potassium salt”, “mineral salt”, and “sodium reduced salt” in six official languages of the United Nations were used for search. Information about the brand, formula, labelling, and price was extracted and analysed. RESULTS Eighty-seven low-sodium salts were available in 47 out of 195 countries around the world (24%), including 28 high-income countries, 13 upper-middle-income countries, and six lower-middle-income countries. The proportion of sodium chloride varied from 0% (sodium-free) to 88% (as percent of weight, regular salt is 100% NaCl). Potassium chloride was the most frequent another component with levels ranging from 0% to 100% (potassium chloride salt). Forty-three (49%) had labels advising potential health risk, 33 (38%) labelling the advice of potential health benefits. The median price of low-sodium salts in high-income, upper-middle-income, lower-middle-income countries was USD 15.0/kg (IQR: 6.4 to 22.5), USD 2.7/kg (IQR: 1.7 to 5.5) and USD 2.9/kg (IQR: 0.50 to 22.2) respectively. The price of low-sodium salts was between 1.1 and 14.6 times that of regular salts. CONCLUSIONS Low-sodium salts are not widely available and are commonly more expensive than regular salts. Policies that promote the availability, affordability and labelling of low-sodium salts should enhance appropriate uptake for blood pressure lowering and cardiovascular prevention. CLINICALTRIAL N/A INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT RR2-10.1111/jch.14054


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