Ranking Agricultural Competitiveness in Baltic Countries Using Multicriteria Decision Making (MCDM)
Ahmad Bathaei, Dalia Štreimikienė, Justas Streimikis, Benyamin Darami
Keywords:
Agricultural Competitiveness, Baltic Countries, Multicriteria Decision Making (MCDM), Sustainability in Agriculture, FUCOM, TOPSIS
Abstract:
The competitiveness of agriculture is one of the critical factors in on-going sustainable development conversations, especially in the Baltic countries, which are agriculturally dependent even today. This paper analyzes the agricultural competitiveness of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia using a comprehensive matrix that encompasses economics, technology, trade, institutions, and new sustainability. This study employs durable decision-making approaches like FUCOM and TOPSIS, allowing for an exhaustive and systematic analysis of the competitiveness antecedents across these countries. Accordingly, the outcomes show the most radical disparities within the Baltic states. Lithuania was identified as the most competitive country due to its extremely low cost advantage, higher labor productivity, and quality policy support. Estonia is second, due to evidence of technological competencies and successful market diversification. Latvia is left behind because of productivity issues and inadequate market diversification. These results underscore that interventions, such as spending on technology and infrastructure, market liberalization, and structural improvements, need to be crafted to meet country-level deficiencies. This study also highlights sustainability and climate change as factors that have influenced agricultural competitiveness as global markets pay more attention to issues of sustainability. The integration of MCDM methodologies guarantees an effective and credible evaluation process, which would provide the possibility of the replication of similar studies in other regions and fields. In filling these research gaps, this work can help policymakers and stakeholders to plan and propel the Baltic region towards a better, stronger, and more sustainable farming and agriculture sector.
Fulltext download:
 Ranking Agricultural Competitiveness in Baltic Countries Using Multicriteria Decision Making (MCDM) [PDF file] [Filesize: 491.6 KB]
 10.7441/joc.2026.03.04
Bathaei, A., Štreimikienė, D., Streimikis, J., & Darami, B. (2026). Ranking Agricultural Competitiveness in Baltic Countries Using Multicriteria Decision Making (MCDM). Journal of Competitiveness, 16(3), 92–114. https://doi.org/10.7441/joc.2026.03.04
|
