THEORETICAL BASIS OF COMPETITION AND COMPETITIVENESS

One of the key elements of ensuring the functioning of the free market is competition, respectively competitiveness policy. In fact, it has a long history, from ancient times to the presence. It was formed on the basis of different opinions, theoretical concepts and schools and it represents a complicated, often even contradictory field. In this contribution we present the basic theoretical background of competition and competitiveness, since there are different approaches, opinions and schools on the issue concerning the nature of a competitive environment. We describe the selected relevant concepts and schools that have affected in past and currently affect competition and competitiveness.