Competitiveness Analysis of ASEAN Countries

The objective of this paper is to identify the significant level of competitiveness among the ASEAN countries. We also pointed out that the distinction between the 6 original members and 4 new members of ASEAN does not exist on the basis of economic competitiveness. Secondary data obtained through the annual report of Global Competitiveness Index produced by the World Economic Forum was used. The scores of the 12 pillars for competitiveness were reanalyzed using discrete and continuous probability. We examined intra-group comparison and individual country analyses. The standard score and corresponding cumulative distribution were used for intra-group analysis. The Kahneman-Tversky Prospective Theory was used to analyze the country competitive prospect. We found that, as a group ASEAN countries are not competitive economies (p > 0.05). We obtained the linear predictive function for the expected value of competitiveness index score as Y = 4.15 + 0.03X. The F test shows 2.13 for the observed (F(8,8) = 3.44) with R squared of 0.23 implying that the competitiveness index for ASEAN is intrinsically diverse and is not stable; it could be improved.Diba, D.F. is a research assistant and is a contributing autho