Learning objectives
By the end of this course students will be expected to have a deep understanding of the microeconomic factors, processes and mechanisms which can foster economic development and prosperity. They will through the cases they have studied have an awareness of the role microeconomic forces and of business clusters in the economic development of cities, regions, nations and even regional trading blocs under various stages of economic development. They should be in a position to give informed policy advice to governments or to local or regional authorities as also to business groups regarding the promotion of economic development through suitable attention to the microeconomic underpinnings of competiveness.
Prerequisites
No.
Course unit content
This course explores the determinants of national and regional competitiveness from a bottom-up, microeconomic perspective. The course probes the ultimate determinants of a nation’s or region’s productivity, rooted in the strategies and operating practices of locally-based firms, the vitality of clusters, and the quality of the business environment in which competition takes place.
This course examines both advanced and developing economies and addresses the competitiveness of nations, subnational units such as states or provinces, and particular clusters. The course also examines the role that economic coordination among neighbouring countries plays in competitiveness.
The course is concerned not only with government policy but also with the roles that firms, industry associations, universities, and other institutions play in competitiveness. In modern international competition, each of these institutions has an important role that is shifting. Moreover, the process of creating and sustaining an economic strategy for a nation or region is a daunting challenge. The course explores not only theory and policy, but also the organizational structures, institutional structures, and change processes required for sustained improvements in competitiveness.
Full programme
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Bibliography
The materials will be a series of Harvard Business School cases on competitiveness. Students will have full access to the Harvard Business School website dedicated to the course ad this will be a key resource;
https://iscln.hbs.edu/sites/moc.
Teaching methods
Since the course is taught in conjunction with Harvard Business School the teaching methods and content are modelled very closely on the actual Harvard course and students will have direct access to the Harvard course website.
The course is taught using the case method, together with readings, lectures, and guests. The case method requires extensive advance preparation by students for each class, and a significant part of the course evaluation may be based on class participation. The course also involves a major group project involving the competitive assessment of a particular country and cluster.
Assessment methods and criteria
Final Exam (60%). A group project involving the competitive assessment of a particular country and cluster (40%).
Other information
A student who successfully completes and passes this course will be entitled to say that they have passed a Harvard Business School module.
