Core: A decision support system for regional competitiveness analysis based on multi-criteria sorting

a r t i c l e i n f o If regional competitiveness is equated to the capacity to attract and preserve investments, then the perception investors have of the region's characteristic is fundamental. This perception is a result of a complex integration of multiple criteria. This paper approaches the analysis of regional competitiveness by techniques of multi-criteria sorting. An ELECTRE-based preference model is used in the framework of the new THESEUS multi-criteria evaluation method for making competitiveness assignments. The model's parameters are inferred from a set of assignment examples. This model is implemented in the CORE decision support system, which satisfies a requirement of Sinaloa State Government in Mexico. CORE performs very well analyzing the competitiveness of Mexican regional entities. This will allow governments to better define their policies by placing financial resources more efficiently. The model and the system are conceived to easily emigrate towards other regional contexts. Through centuries economists have identified in academic literature different factors and mechanisms which, when interrelated, allow economic development of a country or region and, in synthesis, can be defined as the capacity to maintain sustained increase in product per capita and its fair distribution [17]. These elements comprise, among others, prior historical conditions, natural resources available, geographic location, efficient application of resources in a competitive market with an increasing division of labor, physical and human capital accumulation, technological progress and diffusion combined with legal, cultural and institutional elements that allow them to be displayed [17,21]. Globalization has increased the opportunities of countries and regions to reach the economic growth faster thanks to the possibility of attracting capitals, capability for innovation and capacity for faster and greater access to growing markets. At the same time, however, the countries are becoming more fragile and may be suddenly sanctioned for bad performance, experiencing the opposite (capital flight, drain of highly qualified human resources, loss of markets), thereby affecting the income of the population. Papers on territorial competitiveness are strongly influenced by the work of Michael Porter [22], who provided an important conceptual framework and notably stimulated an interest of the international community in this topic. Territorial competitiveness is based on the capacity of one geographic unit to maintain its medium and long term economic growth, sustained increase in capital investment, product per capita and exportations in order to improve the income and welfare of its population. However, the evaluation of its economic …