National competitiveness of the Netherlands: the impact of the export strategy

Abstract

The article analyzes the post-crisis recovery of the Dutch economy's competitiveness. The author supposes that for the Netherlands as a small country, the decisive factor of national competitiveness is reasonable use of competitive advantages in the export strategy. The study was carried out in two stages: first, a series of general macroeconomic parameters of the Dutch economy were analyzed as the basis of the country's economic strength; second, the country's export activity is explored as a guarantee of the economy's efficiency. A comparison is made between the sectoral indicators of the Dutch national competitiveness and the structure of the country's exports. It is concluded that there is no direct correlation between the level of relative competitiveness and export-orientation of one or another sector of the Dutch economy. The basis for the economic success of the Netherlands in recent years is exports diversification, as well as the uniform development of industries and reliance on the traditional spheres of economic activity. The Netherlands, by its example, demonstrates that successful trade in foreign markets by categories of goods and services that are not relatively competitive can maintain equilibrium, stability and independence of the economy from external shocks.