Beyond Productivity

Abstract

As it is well known, by examining the two most important competitive scales, we find that Colombia has been placed in the middle for a long period of time, according to the position achieved in each ranking. Besides, the country’s growth rates have depended more on the price fluctuations of commodities rather than on the direction of the economy for generating value in the market. These two factors have existed for a long period of time, so it can be said that the phenomenon of under competitivity, and therefore of under growth, is a structural one. The overall sensation is that Colombia has not been able to move forward on this matter.
 As it is obvious, this situation becomes commonplace and the population starts to worry about what is happening: the fact that we simply are an average country from the competitive point of view. As an answer, economic and business people and concerning entities within the country have proposed the need to increase productivity, echoing those voices that have underlined this variable as a key element in today’s world economy. But a question must really be asked: Is productivity enough? This means, If we aim towards an increase in productivity, can we overcome the competitivity problem?