Are composite indices good measures of countries' competitiveness? ; Les indices composites sont-ils de bonnes mesures de la compétitivité des pays ?
this article analyses the use of a set of composite indicators as a measure of competitiveness. Based on the rank tests of Spearman and Kendall (1938), we show that the rankings induced by these different competitiveness indices are very closely correlated. Moreover, on the basis of a critical analysis of these indicators, we prove that they cannot be used as a measure of countries' competitiveness. Indeed, the lack of theoretical and empirical basis in the choice of variables and their weights leads to problems of interpretation in terms of economic policy. The "scores" obtained for these various indicators should therefore be interpreted with caution and composite indices should rather be used as indicator or benchmark variables for the competitiveness resulting from side tables. ; This article investigates the use of a series of composite indicators as a measure of global competitiveness. Using Spearman and Kendall (1938) rank correlation tests, we show that rankings resulting from those competitiveness indices are highly correlated. Furthermore, a critical analysis of these indicators indicates that they cannot be used as an empirical measure of countries competitiveness. Indeed, the lack of theoretical and empirical basis for the choice of variables and weights inside the indices brings some interpretations problems in terms of economic policy. "Scores" obtained using these indicators have to be taken with caution. These indices have to be rather used as indicatory variables or competitiveness benchmarks resulting in dashboard. ; this article analyses the use of a set of composite indicators as a measure of competitiveness. Based on the rank tests of Spearman and Kendall (1938), we show that the rankings induced by these different competitiveness indices are very closely correlated. Moreover, on the basis of a critical analysis of these indicators, we prove that they cannot be used as a measure of countries' competitiveness. Indeed, the lack of theoretical and empirical basis in the choice of variables and ...