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The study analyzes the structure and the dynamics of the national economy using the data of professional traders registered at Trade Registry from Romania. Based on this analysis we achieved a structural profile of the national economy activities. The results of this analysis were correlated with the dynamic of the global competitiveness, according to the World Economic Forum model. Thus, based on logical deductions, we have shown the impact of the structural weaknesses of the Romanian economy on competitiveness. In 2015-2016, when the share of companies that have withdrawn from business has exceeded the pace of new business registrations, the competitiveness of the Romanian economy (according to the global competitiveness index) has fallen. Another element with a negative impact was also the intensity of activities in the national economy. The share of primary sector activities has decreased with four percent and the share of activities secondary sector has increased with only three percent. Instead, the share of tertiary sector activities has continued to grow. The increase in the share of the tertiary sector activities and the low volume of activities in the other two sectors confirm that Romania has become a market for external producers. Moreover, the figures for 2017 show that the effects of structural deficiencies are still experienced today (Romania losing 13 positions in the ranking of the global competitiveness index

Theory and practice suggest that entrepreneurship is the engine of economic growth. The speed with which a nation moves from economic growth to economic development depends on the performance of entrepreneurial initiatives. Given the role played by entrepreneurship for the development of an economy, increasing its performance can help the development of national markets and the increase in national competitiveness. The main objective of our paper is to investigate the link between entrepreneurial performance and economic development of countries. The research was carried out on a sample of 27 European Union countries in a period of twelve years. We used panel data regression models. As dependent variables for expressing the economic development, we considered the global competitiveness index and the gross domestic product per capita growth. As independent variables, we used a set of indicators measuring entrepreneurial performance. Our findings highlight the significant role played by increased entrepreneurial performance for enhancing the economic development of EU countries. We also find that some indicators expressing entrepreneurial performance might have different effects on the economy depending on the stage of economic development of countries. Our research provides empirical evidence regarding the need for performant entrepreneurial activities for enhancing economic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]