On the background of the theories an inter-national trade and the new growth theories the author of this paper seeks above all the explanation of a ver) frequented term of competitiveness in terms of convergence and divergence in the world economy, its adequate definition and place within the framework of the economic policy mainly in less developed countries. He has chosen the approach, where the development of international trade theory is not judged from the standpoint of traditional explanations of the grounds for trading between countries, but centres his attention at the origins of these grounds. Just this is important from the standpoint of the theoretical explanation of current motive powers in the international trade dynamisation. In conformity with many economists the author comes to the conclusion that classic and neo-classic theory of international trade is indeed rich in theoretical platforms, provides nevertheless little explanation for current growth conditions of the international trade. The author contrariwise ascribes more chances here for alternative (new) theoretical concepts of the trade among countries. Such approaches as for instance the concept of imitation gap, product differentiation, production cycle theory represent currently one of the two methodological support pillars of the competitive economy phenomenon. According to the author the second pillar is the so called endogenous theory of the economic growth. This view is based on the fact, that this theory is founded in principle on the identical factors that present new theories of international trade. Prom the methodological point of view one can characterise current convergence tendencies of the theories of international trade and economic growth as a phase of repeated return towards the integrated research of economic advantage, as was the case in times of A. Smith, when the growth theory was in fact the theory of international trade, and vice versa. As a result of cited bases the author postulates both higher adequacy of the term competitive advantage, and the thesis that the problem of competitiveness need not be reduced to the foreign trade sphere, but that one should consider it as a problem of the overall development of the supply side of economy, as a process of competitive advantage generation through cost minimising and real technological increase of productivity level. The second part of the paper is dedicated to the policy of competitiveness with a special attention to less developed countries. From the point of view of the relevant relation to this problem the author assesses the concept of import substitution versus the support of exports and comes to the conclusion that even the import substitution in suggested modification can be a part of competitiveness policy. In this part the author criticises the concept of the so called industrial policy oriented at structural changes, which is applied in many countries and suggest to substitute it by a wider concept of competitiveness. The author establishes this concept on the one side by the differentiation of real growth factors of the economy competitiveness, and the tools of policy supporting competitiveness and providing the entrepreneuring environment that belongs to the government sphere. On the other side the author attaches main importance to the exercising of generally functional policies, and relatively lesser, still inevitable importance is attached to the so called specific (intersectional and horizontally acting) policies. In the closing part of the paper the themes are raised for the generation of the policy of competitiveness within the framework of the Slovak economy. One suggests that the policy of competitiveness support of the Slovak economy in the conceptual documents of the government should not be understood as some appendix of the macro-economy policy, but to be treated as an interconnected complex of fiscal, monetary and income policy, policy of institutional reforms and of the so called specific policies. The competitiveness policy so far was mistakenly limited just to these specific policies. One therefore suggests that the conceptual documents of the government dealing with the economy development should analyse not only macro-economic quantities but also real factors of the growth of competitiveness and consequently formulate priorities in this sphere. These priorities should include also the problem of price level convergence and indicator ERDI towards developed countries and its adequate reflection in the exchange rate or eventually in the overall monetary policy. Among the so called specific policies dominating role should play their horizontal functioning, above all in the sphere of generation, diffusion and implementation of technologies and innovations, further in the spheres of export support, the inflow of direct foreign investments and the development of line infrastructure. The generation and implementation of such a framework could contribute to the reduction of gaps in competitiveness of the Slovak economy compared to that of developed countries and for the catching-up process within the Slovak integration into the EU. Even if the contents of the paper aims predominantly at its exploitation in decision making processes, the evaluation of international trade and economic growth can contribute for further development of the theory of international trade and world economy.
