Porter’s Diamond Approaches and the Competitiveness Web

Abstract

This study explores Porter’s diamond of national competitiveness, by critically examining both the analytical virtues, the extensions, and the criticisms it has received over time. The aim is to analyse the stage in which the study of the diamond is currently in, about twenty years after the introduction of M. Porter, suggesting that its analytical contribution focusing on the industrial dynamics (meso-competitiveness) is still relevant even though significant analytical repositioning and improvements are possible. This research attempts to integrate a set of evolutionary socioeconomic dimensions into the “diamond’s” analytical perspective, ending up with a proposed “competitiveness web” conceptual model.