PA 5590
Economic Competitiveness: Firms, Clusters and Economic Development
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The course examines both advanced and developing economies and addresses competitiveness at multiple levels -- nations, sub-national units such as states or provinces, particular cluster, and neighboring countries. 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 competition, each of these institutions has an important and evolving role in economic development. Moreover, the process of creating and sustaining an economic strategy for a nation, state 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.
The course is based on a case-study course developed by Professor Michael Porter and a team of his colleagues at the Harvard Business School. The course explores the determinants of national and regional competitiveness building from the perspective of firms, clusters, sub-national units, nations, and groups of neighboring countries. It focuses on the sources of national or regional productivity, which are 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.
The course is taught using case studies drawn from all major regions of the world. Part of the purpose of the course is to expose students to some of the most successful countries and regions. The class format will consist of case studies, readings, lectures, guest speakers, and a strong emphasis on teamwork and class participation. Team members will be expected to prepare and present a regional economic and cluster analysis and strategy, to give an oral presentation to a guest jury, and to assess their own performance as a team.
Teams of 3 to 5 students will prepare a competitiveness report for a country, state or region, which will include a chosen industry cluster, analysis and policy recommendations related to the cluster. This team project may also qualify as a capstone professional paper project with prior approval of the instructor. Please contact the instructor if you would like to have your project qualify as a capstone project.