Based on a panel data set for 38 European countries over the period 1995-2014 and by using the definition of "foundational competitiveness", which we operationalise as GDP per working-age individual at PPP, this paper analyses how much trading partners matter for the national competitiveness of...

The study concludes that Europe should respond to China's New Silk Road initiative with a coherent infrastructure network and transport strategy of its own to leverage its economic potential. It should not rely on China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to achieve this, but invest itself to...