Investigating the competitive advantage of French economic power in Europe

Measuring the level of power of countries and comparing them with each other is one of the topics studied in geopolitical knowledge. Geopolitical knowledge means the optimal use of geographical sources of power in relations between actors. Therefore, the main question of the research is how the economic power of France is compared to its regional competitors? To answer this question, the research method has been used descriptively-analytically and its purpose has been applied. The present study is conducted in two dimensions. In the first stage, the required information was studied through documentary study and libraries. Then, the goals, important strategies to achieve the goals and capabilities of France's economic power were entered into the Meta-SWOT software; Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine the competitive advantage of French economic power compared to regional competitors in Europe. The results show that according to the advantages and capabilities of France in comparison with the countries in question, there is a kind of competitiveness that can depict the level of economic power of France according to the resources and capabilities of other countries in the region. The obtained results show that the most important advantages of France's power over competitors (Norway, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, England, etc.) include innovation capacity, high-tech export, scientific technology level, investment attraction. Foreign and knowledge-based economies have been the most strategic resources and economic capabilities to become economic power, respectively. And variables such as doubts and uncertainty that people have about the social and economic situation, the existing economic structure, controlling high unemployment rates, slow economic growth are considered to be the most persistent problem facing the economic power of France. Global market dominance, global trade share with 4 points, Gini index with 3.9 points, GDP and overseas investment with 3.7 points, economic complexity with 3.6 points, high-tech exports with 3.5 points, respectively, the most strategic France's economic resources and capabilities have been to become an economic power. The comparison of France's level of competition with other European competitors showed that Norway, the United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden and Switzerland had the highest level of economic competition with France.