This data has been created by the Regional Australia Institute for the [In]Sight competitive index released in 2012. Modelled on the World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Report [In]Sight was developed in collaboration with Deloitte Access Economics and combines data from sources including the Australian Bureau of Statistics and the Social Health Atlas of Australia. Market size and proximity to market are important determinants of regional competitiveness for non-metropolitan regions of Australia. Generally larger markets allow firms to develop and benefit from economies of scale and encourage entrepreneurship and innovation. A small residential population and low numbers of local businesses can reduce economic opportunities and limit business growth.

This data has been created by the Regional Australia Institute for the [In]Sight competitive index released in 2012. Modelled on the World Economic Forums Global Competitiveness Report [In]Sight was developed in collaboration with Deloitte Access Economics and combines data from sources including the Australian Bureau of Statistics and the Social Health Atlas of Australia. Infrastructure and transport (and by extension essential services) are crucial elements in determining the location of and type of investment activities and business sectors that can develop in a region. Well-developed infrastructure particularly dependable electricity and telecommunications systems are an integral component of business production. Similarly effective transport systems are vital in allowing regions to move their goods and services in a secure and timely fashion. Both of these measures directly influence a region's competitiveness as they improve the region's ability to host economic activities through adequate infrastructure and also increase the region's ability to interact with other markets.

This data has been created by the Regional Australia Institute for the [In]Sight competitive index released in 2012. Modelled on the World Economic Forums Global Competitiveness Report [In]Sight was developed in collaboration with Deloitte Access Economics and combines data from sources including the Australian Bureau of Statistics and the Social Health Atlas of Australia. Business sophistication is determined by two key factors: the quality of a region's overall business networks and the quality of individual firms operations and strategies. These two elements are inextricably linked and work together to encourage higher efficiency and levels of competitiveness. A regions level of business sophistication signals to potential investors the region's current productivity capabilities and their potential for responding to competitive pressures.

This data has been created by the Regional Australia Institute for the [In]Sight competitive index released in 2012. Modelled on the World Economic Forums Global Competitiveness Report [In]Sight was developed in collaboration with Deloitte Access Economics and combines data from sources including the Australian Bureau of Statistics and the Social Health Atlas of Australia. The institutional environment within a specific region is determined by a combination of Commonwealth State and local government controls. These institutions play an integral role in creating the legal and administrative framework within which investors and businesses operate and households reside and therefore have a strong bearing on competitiveness due to the level of influence on investment decisions. For instance an investment environment with minimal red tape may increase the incentives to invest in a certain region. Alternatively a lack of transparency or trustworthiness in the institutional framework may serve to discourage investment.

This data has been created by the Regional Australia Institute for the [In]Sight competitive index released in 2012. Modelled on the World Economic Forums Global Competitiveness Report [In]Sight was developed in collaboration with Deloitte Access Economics and combines data from sources including the Australian Bureau of Statistics and the Social Health Atlas of Australia. Both employment rates and the levels of labour force participation are key inputs into the creation of an efficient labour market. Generally long-term unemployment indicates the presence of inherent structural problems which may adversely impact competitiveness. Low labour force participation may reflect low education levels in the region a lack of economic opportunities or an atypical age structure (such as a skew towards retirement age persons).

This data has been created by the Regional Australia Institute for the [In]Sight competitive index released in 2012. Modelled on the World Economic Forums Global Competitiveness Report [In]Sight was developed in collaboration with Deloitte Access Economics and combines data from sources including the Australian Bureau of Statistics and the Social Health Atlas of Australia. The relationship between innovation and competitiveness becomes increasingly relevant in developed economies in which markets need to be at the forefront of cutting edge products and processes in order to retain their competitive advantage. In the context of non-metropolitan regions of Australia innovation is indicative of businesses willing to try new approaches to improving productivity and engaging with the enterprise environment the digital agenda and investing in education and training. A reluctance or inability to innovate significantly reduces the competitiveness of a region.

This data has been created by the Regional Australia Institute for the [In]Sight competitive index released in 2012. Modelled on the World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Report [In]Sight was developed in collaboration with Deloitte Access Economics and combines data from sources including the Australian Bureau of Statistics and the Social Health Atlas of Australia. A regions physical endowment in terms of both the access to natural resources and the physical attributes of the region such as climate are hugely influential in determining a regions competitiveness. Access to natural resources can create economic opportunities through offering inputs to production (such as access to water or good quality soil) and can be used to generate production outputs (such as minerals or extractives). Similarly the physical make up of a region can be an important determinant of the region's ability to connect to external markets. If a region is situated on the ocean they may have access to ports a viable tourism industry and be naturally more connected to wider markets than an inland region. In contrast an area which is difficult to access such as a mountainous region or a remote community will have more difficulty exporting goods and therefore be at an automatic comparative disadvantage.

This data has been created by the Regional Australia Institute for the [In]Sight competitive index released in 2012. Modelled on the World Economic Forums Global Competitiveness Report [In]Sight was developed in collaboration with Deloitte Access Economics and combines data from sources including the Australian Bureau of Statistics and the Social Health Atlas of Australia. Information and communication technologies have historically played a crucial role in creating innovative and more efficient work practices and lifestyles improving productivity and greatly speeding up commercial processes. At present digital innovations are transforming the way businesses operate from retail services through to manufacturing and primary industries. For non-metropolitan regions to keep pace with metropolitan Australia businesses and households need access to the latest technologies and the skills to use them. Therefore technological readiness and a region's speed in adopting technologies is a vital element in determining a regions competitiveness and ability to attract investment by both households and businesses.