The Impact of Price-Cost Competitiveness Factors on Economic Growth

The aim of this study is to verify the assumption that price-cost competitiveness factors affect long-term economic growth in the sample countries. This analysis is based on the neoclassical growth model extended by human capital. Furthermore, variables reflecting the cost-competitiveness and cost-effective real exchange rate and unit labor costs were added to the model. The default is a panel regression methodology and related methods of data analysis. The sample consists of EU member states that meet the requirement of a small open economy and membership in the OECD. On the basis of this criterion, the following countries were selected: Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Ireland, Hungary, Netherlands, Austria, Slovenia and the Slovak Republic. Annual frequency in the time frame 1999-2010 is the reference period. This is shown by the analysis results in the case that the selected sample of countries with affordable cost factors appears to be significant. The selected indicators of competitiveness can be one of the prominent factors that influence economic growth in developed countries, yet they are not a fully sufficient and comprehensive source of growth factors in terms of competitiveness.