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Economic Competitiveness Index

A standardized framework for comparing regional economic performance to support confident policymaking and investment decisions.

What is the Economic Competitiveness Index?

The Economic Competitiveness Index is a data-driven framework developed by Cambridge Econometrics to help regions understand how they compare across the core factors that shape long-term economic competitiveness.

Built using publicly available data and a transparent methodology, the Economic Competitiveness Index provides a consistent, structured way to benchmark economic performance across metropolitan areas, multi-county regions, or individual counties—helping decision-makers interpret complex data and compare places with confidence.

The index provides a standard platform to measure economic competitiveness and Cambridge Econometrics works closely with clients to tailor the index to be relevant to their region. Results are presented through an easy-to-use interactive online dashboard, developed in partnership with mySidewalk.  

Theme and indicator

Why Regions Need a Better Way to Compare Performance

Regions often face challenges when comparing economic performance across places.

Economic data are frequently fragmented across sources, geographies may not align, and indicators are defined inconsistently—making it difficult to assess relative strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities.

The Economic Competitiveness Index addresses these challenges by offering a standardized, repeatable framework that allows regions to assess relative performance across a defined set of competitiveness themes, using consistent indicators and clearly defined comparison geographies. By replacing disconnected data points with a comparable evidence base, the ECI helps regions move from data collection to informed strategic economic priorities and investments.

Get in touch

Economic Competitiveness Index for Worcester (MA) Metro Area

What the Economic Competitiveness Index Provides

The ECI is designed to help regions answer practical, decision-oriented questions such as:

    • How does our economic performance compare with competitor and peer regions?

    • How does our business productivity, industry mix, workforce and innovation compare with peers?

    • Where are our strengths - and where are there gaps that may required targeted action?

To support this analysis, the Economic Competitiveness Index is organized around seven core themes:

    • Economic Conditions
    • Jobs, Wages and Workforce
    • Innovation
    • Population and Demographics
    • Cost of Living
    • Quality of Life
    • Transportation Access

These themes provide a structured lens through which regions can understand current performance and potential long-term competitiveness compared to competitors and peers regions.

 

 

Built for Meaningful Comparision

A central feature of the Economic Competitiveness Index is its focus on relative performance. Cambridge Econometrics works with clients to identify appropriate peer and competitor regions, ensuring that comparisons are relevant and grounded in regional context.

All indicators used in the Economic Competitiveness Index are drawn from trusted public data sources, ensuring transparency, replicability, and suitability for public-facing analysis.

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Who Uses the Economic Competitiveness Index?

The Economic Competitiveness Index is designed to support organizations that rely on credible, comparable economic intelligence, including:

    • Economic development organizations and chambers of commerce
    • Regional planning agencies
    • Policymakers and public sector leaders
    • Workforce development organizations
    • Foundations, investors and research organizations

By providing a shared framework and common language, the Economic Competitiveness Index helps diverse stakeholders align around evidence when setting priorities, evaluating progress, or communicating regional performance.


Working With Us to Develop Your Unique Economic Competitive Index for Your Region

The Economic Competitiveness Index is delivered through an online dashboard developed in partnership with mySidewalk. 

The Economic Competitiveness Index is delivered through an online dashboard developed in partnership with mySidewalk, and additional data indicators can be included to customize the index to best fit the economic dynamics of your specific region.

Get in Touch

To learn more about the Economic Competitiveness Index, request a walkthrough of the dashboard, or discuss developing a tailored index for your region, contact Cambridge Econometrics. 

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Dan Hodge
Executive Vice President
t: + 1 413 206 4001
e: dh@camecon.com