What is Sustainable Competitiveness?
Sustainable competitiveness is the ability to generate and sustain inclusive wealth without diminishing the future capability of sustaining or increasing current wealth levels.
It is the ability to build a framework—policies, regulations, management tools, and visions—that allows a firm, a sector, an individual, or a country to sustain or increase the ability to provide income in relation to the current and future wider environment and society.
Understanding Competitiveness
We live in a competitive world. Some products and services sell better than others, and some countries are more successful than others in generating income for their citizens.
Traditionally, competitiveness is defined as "the ability and performance of a firm, sub-sector or country to sell and supply goods and services in a given market, in relation to the ability and performance of other firms, sub-sectors or countries in the same market."
However, this conventional definition focuses on the outcome—the ability to sell goods and services. Managers and policymakers must design policies and tools that facilitate competitiveness not just now, but also into the future. This is where sustainable competitiveness comes in: it's about being able to successfully compete and exist in the long term.
Our Core Principle
Sustainability is profitable – and profitability is sustainable.
Sustainable management is sustainable competitiveness—the foundation to sustain competitiveness.
The Framework for Success
Successful companies and nations are based on frameworks—internal management and external influences—that allow individuals and companies to be successful now and into the future.
Sustainable competitiveness requires building comprehensive frameworks that address both present needs and future challenges, integrating economic, environmental, and social considerations into all decision-making processes.
Corporate Application
Sustainable management is an evolution of existing management thinking where the decision horizon is wider in scope (issues) and deeper in time.
Sustainable management is therefore superior to conventional management, creating lasting competitive advantages.
Policy Application
National sustainable competitiveness requires policy frameworks that balance economic prosperity with environmental protection and social equity.
Countries that successfully integrate sustainability into economic policy achieve superior long-term performance.
Key Policies for Achieving Sustainable Competitiveness
Based on comprehensive analysis of global best practices and sustainable competitiveness indicators, the following policies are essential for achieving long-term sustainable competitive advantage at the national level:
Applications of Sustainable Competitiveness
National Economic Policy
Sustainable competitiveness provides a comprehensive framework for economic policy making that goes beyond traditional GDP metrics to encompass long-term national well-being and prosperity.
Explore the Global Sustainable Competitiveness IndexCorporate Management
For corporations, sustainable competitiveness means implementing management practices that create long-term value through superior environmental, social, and governance performance.
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