ted by governments, corporations, and economists to the point that is positive character is virtually taken for granted. Competitiveness is cited as a justification of decisions and actions of firms, "especially when the outcomes adversely affect some people, groups, and classes. Historically, the concept of competitiveness has been used to justify business opposition to unions, reduced hours of work, wage increases, paid vacations, health and safety regulations, antipollution laws, and so on." In the contemporary period, governments frequently cite the need to be competitive "to legitimize relaxing regulations on corporations and removing barriers to corporate profitability (most notably enshrined in free trade agreements), such as spending on unemployment compensation, health, education, and welfare. a In this scenario, workers in one country are pitted against those in all others."
When productivity is defined as the output per employee per hour of work, a productivity ratio can be established. In such instance
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