Assessment and analysis of the driver effect growth on regional competitiveness

The article presents authors' exploratory research on the methods for assessing the impact of the innovation component of the industry-the driver of regional economic development - on strengthening its competitive advantages. We propose to use a three-level methodical structure: (1) an assessment of the competitive position of a region against the key factors important for regional competitiveness, including the innovativeness of regional economy; (2) an assessment of the comparative cost-effectiveness and sectoral innovation activity in a region; (3) an assessment of the impact that the most effective industry at boosting regional development has on regional competitiveness. For each research unit, we have envisioned its own methodical framework adapted to the available database (tested on the information material from Kemerovo Oblast). The pilot calculations made to estimate the relative efficiency of basic industries in the economy of the Kemerovo Oblast (based on the Data Envelopment Analysis) quantitatively confirmed the hypothesis that the Kuzbass coal industry most effectively uses domestic resources for its development and has the greatest impact on the state and trends of the overall economy in the region...