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Author
Götz Marta (Akademia Finansów i Biznesu Vistula)
Title
A New Competitiveness Approach in the European Union: Dealing with Misconceptions
O niewłaściwym podejściu do konkurencyjności w Unii Europejskiej
Source
International Business and Global Economy, 2016, nr 35/1, s. 252-264, bibliogr. 21 poz.
Biznes Międzynarodowy w Gospodarce Globalnej
Keyword
Kryzys finansowy, Konkurencyjność, Strefa euro
Financial crisis, Competitiveness, Eurozone
Note
summ., streszcz.
Company
Unia Europejska (UE)
European Union (EU)
Abstract
Niniejszy artykuł analizuje zainteresowanie kwestiami konkurencyjności, jakie można zaobserwować w Unii Europejskiej po ustąpieniu pierwszej ostrej fazy kryzysu finansowego roku 2008. Świadczą o nim między innymi takie inicjatywy, jak Pakt Euro Plus, Raport Pięciu Prezydentów proponujący utworzenie narodowych rad konkurencyjności czy sieć badawcza Europejskiego Banku Centralnego CompNet. Na podstawie przeglądu wybranej literatury i opinii ekspertów, a także odnosząc się do najnowszych ujęć teoretycznych i doświadczeń Republiki Federalnej Niemiec, artykuł stara się zidentyfikować szanse i zagrożenia, jakie wiążą się z tymi propozycjami. Zwraca uwagę na potrzebę szerszego podejścia do konkurencyjności, wykraczającego poza lansowaną synchronizację kosztów. Bez wątpienia EU, zwłaszcza strefa euro, do sprawnego funkcjonowania wymaga pewnej konwergencji między jej członkami i dostosowania zmian płac do zmian wydajności, jednak redukowanie konkurencyjności do aspektu harmonizacji kosztów pracy wydaje się nieadekwatne i ignoruje specyfikę dojrzałych gospodarek UE. (abstrakt oryginalny)

This paper investigates the renewed interest in competitiveness which can be witnessed in the EU once the acute phase of 2008+ crisis abated. This revival is expressed in several initiatives, such as the idea to set up national competitiveness boards, the Euro Plus Pact or the ECB research network CompNet. By reviewing the recent literature and experts' opinions as well as drawing on the new theoretical approach and the insight from the German reunification, this papers identifies main promises and pitfalls of selected European proposals. In particular, it stresses the need of a more nuanced approach to competitiveness, which goes beyond the narrow perspective centred on the synchronisation of cost developments. The evolution of salaries and productivity must be aligned and certain level of convergence among the European Monetary Union members is necessary. Nevertheless, reducing competitiveness to such an issue seems inadequate, as it ignores the 'high-road' and 'beyond GDP' competitiveness which is the reality for the mature European economies. (original abstract)
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Bibliography
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ISSN
2300-6102
Language
eng
URI / DOI
http://dx.doi.org/10.4467/23539496IB.16.019.5600
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