IUM-MBA is ranked number 42 worldwide in 2009!! See THE ECONOMIST's "WHICH MBA" ranking:

http://www.economist.com/business-education/whichmba/

Amazon.com Widgets

http://www.isc.hbs.edu/moc.htm

Microeconomics of Competitiveness: Firms, Clusters, and Economic Development (MOC) is a university-wide graduate course offered to students from around the Harvard University community including the Harvard Business School, the Kennedy School of Government, and other Harvard graduate programs. The course has been created in a multiyear development effort by Professor Michael E. Porter and the staff and affiliates of the Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness at Harvard Business School. 

The MOC course explores the determinants of competitiveness and successful economic development viewed from a bottom-up, microeconomic perspective. While sound macroeconomic policies, stable legal and political institutions, and improving social conditions create the potential for competitiveness, wealth is actually created at the microeconomic level. The sophistication and productivity of firms, the vitality of clusters, and the quality of the business environment in which competition takes place, are the ultimate determinants of a nation's or region's productivity.

The course has been designed not only for students at Harvard but as a platform that can be taught at universities throughout the world. The course platform consists of case studies and other written materials plus an extensive library of video content that can be used in class including lectures by Prof. Porter for all sessions and videotapes of case protagonists including heads of state, senior ministers, governors, and others.  The course platform includes an extensive website for professors only to assist them in preparing for and teaching the course, including videotapes of case discussions for all sessions and audio tapes by Professor Porter and case writers to assist faculty in preparing for class.  Finally, a course website for students is available that can be customized by each participating university.

IUM will offer the course in the MBA program (Winter 2010 term).

See Press Information:Microeconomics of Competitiveness course at Monaco Business School.mht 

Course Syllabus: The syllabus will be send by email to all course participants.

For updated course information see our HBS Course Material Website! You need the access key to enter this site !(for details see syllabus!).

List of Cluster Research Projects:

The final presentations takes place: 

Why are some economies innovative while others lag behind? Read what Edmund Phelps has to say: http://www.gmfus.org/publications/article.cfm?id=307

Interview with Christian Ketels, SZ, Jan 24, 2008 (in German): http://www.sueddeutsche.de/wirtschaft/artikel/364/153968/

Here is a very interesting set of contributions (access is free!) from the Journal of the Royal Statistical Society:

http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/toc/rssa/171/1

Here you can access the "Clusters of Innovation"-Report: Clusters of Innovation Report 2001.pdf

An excellent EU site: EUROPA: Key facts and figures about Europe and the Europeans

EU Competitiveness Clusters News:

http://www.euractiv.com/en/innovation/competitiveness-clusters/article-182167

GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS REPORT: http://www.weforum.org/en/initiatives/gcp/Global%20Competitiveness%20Report/index.htm

Here is my comment printed in the Dec. 1, 2008 (p. 10):

Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2008"

 Free Economic Data: http://www.economy.com/freelunch/default.asp

Here you find a list of my favorite statistical resources on the Web:

Penn World Table, index.mht

Census Bureau Home Page.mht

Economagic Economic Time Series Page.mht

Asian Development Bank (ADB).mht

Economic Report of the President Main Page.mht

Emerging Markets Industry Stats.mht

Inter-American Development Bank.mht

National Bureau of Economic Research.mht

OAS - Organization of American States.mht

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.mht

The World Bank.mht

The World Factbook.mht

U_S_ Agency for International Development.mht

United Nations.mht

US Bureau of Labor Statistics.mht

World Tables of Economic and Social Indicators.mht

WTO website.mht 

Finland tops the global prosperity index in 2009:

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/54fd57dc-c18c-11de-b86b-00144feab49a.html?nclick_check=1 (FT, Oct. 26, 2009)

Jan. 7, 2009: US remains top Of Global Innovation Index rankings, India ranked 41 - see http://hamaraphotos.com/news/uncategorized/us-remains-top-of-global-innovation-index-rankings-india-ranked-41.html

Video Prime Minister Esko Aho at HBS: http://video.hbs.edu/videotools/play?clip=moc_aho

World Competitiveness Scoreboard: http://www.imd.ch/research/publications/wcy/upload/scoreboard.pdf

Check out the OECD Working Papers Series: http://titania.sourceoecd.org/vl=7965176/cl=13/nw=1/rpsv/workingpapers/20716826.htm

Here you find the just released ECONOMIC REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT. http://www.whitehouse.gov/cea/pubs.html

 World Economic Forum: Global Agenda Jan 2009: http://www.weforum.org/pdf/globalagenda.pdf

 Fraser Institute: Economic of Freedom of the World Report: http://www.freetheworld.com/release.html

NEW: BI-Norwegian School of Management students win HBS "Team Project Award 2008". Congratulations!! See: http://www.bi.no/Content/Article____72522.aspx

There you find the PPT-presentation of the winning team!

 KOF Index of Globalization: http://globalization.kof.ethz.ch/

The US the world's number one innovator (Jan 2009):

http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/saabira-chaudhuri/itinerant-mind/united-states-worlds-number-one-innovator

Here you find the most recent EU Statistics for short-term economic analysis (Jan 31, 2009):

http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_OFFPUB/KS-BJ-08-012/EN/KS-BJ-08-012-EN.PDF

Recent World Bank paper:

"Globalization and Innovation in Emerging Markets" 

 R. Z. Lawrence "Competitiveness": http://www.econlib.org/library/Enc1/Competitiveness.html

Mandatory reading for class on March 6, 2009:

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THE CLUSTERS OF INNOVATION NATIONAL REPORT.docx

Cluster Glossary: http://www.isc.hbs.edu/cmp/cmp_data_glossary.html (from ISC, Cluster Mapping Project)

Cluster Definition: http://www.clusterobservatory.eu/index.php?id=46&nid

READ! C. Ketels' (2009) report on "Clusters, Cluster Policy and Swedish Competitiveness in the Global Economy": http://www.regeringen.se/content/1/c6/12/17/95/d6e53822.pdf 

UNCTAD "Least Developed Countries Report" 2009 http://www.unctad.org/en/docs/ldc2009overview_en.pdf 

July 20, 2009: Professor Porter in Nigeria: http://www.businessdayonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3865:as-michael-porter-arrives&catid=96:columnists&Itemid=350 

The Best 100 Economics Blogs

1. Economics Help: Economics Help offers assistance with simplifying economics.
2. EconLog: The Library of Economics and Liberty offers issues and insights in economics.
3. Cafe Hayek: Learn about globalization, choice, financial markets, randomness, and more on Cafe Hayek.
4. The Economic Populist: The Economic Populist allows readers to speak their mind about economics.
5. Economic Logic: Economic Logic shares the economics in everything.
6. Alpha Sources: Alpha Sources is interested in new ideas.
7. Economists Do It With Models: This blog takes a lighthearted look at economics.
8. Manarin on Money: Roland Manarin is an author offering his perspective on economics.
9. The Big Picture: The Big Picture offers a macro perspective on economics.
10. Citizen Economists: Citizen Economists highlights economic thought from the common man and woman.
11. The Economics Roundtable: On the Economics Roundtable, you’ll find an aggregation of some of the best economics blogs out there.
12. Jeff Matthews Is Not Making This Up: Get an insider’s look into economics from Jeff Matthews.
13. DataPoints: DataPoints offers a free and open exchange on the economy.
14. The Undercover Economist: Check out this blog to learn about the economics of everyday life from Tim Harford.
15. Dollars & Sense: Dollars & Sense presents news about real world economics.
16. Economix: Read Economix to learn about economics in everyday life.
17. Visualizing Economics: Visualizing Economics makes the invisible hand visible with graphs and charts.
18. Cato Unbound: Cato Unbound offers regular essays on big-picture topics from some of the world’s leading thinkers.
19. EconoSpeak: EconoSpeak shares the annals of the economically correct.
20. Overcoming Bias: Economist Robin Hanson writes this blog about honesty, signaling, disagreement, forecasting, and the far future.
21. Economists’ Forum: On this blog, leading economists discuss important topics in economics.
22. Freakonomics: The Freakonomics blog reveals the hidden side of everything.
23. Angry Bear: Angry Bear offers economic commentary on news, politics, and more.

News

Make use of these blogs to stay on top of economics news.

24. Real Time Economics: Find economic insight and analysis from The Wall Street Journal on Real Time Economics.
25. Beat the Press: Dean Baker comments on economics reporting on this blog.
26. EconoMonitor: Find economic and financial intelligence that matters on EconoMonitor.
27. macroblog: Find commentary on economic politics from macroblog, written by the Atlanta Fed.
28. EconoPundit: Read EconoPundit to find economic news and views.
29. Free Exchange: Check out Free Exchange to learn about economics from The Economist.

Business

These blogs focus on business in economics.

30. Economics Unbound: Michael Mandel provides his perspective on economic issues in business today.
31. footnoted: Michelle Leder will help you find out what’s being hidden in SEC filings.
32. Businomics: Businomics will help you make better decisions by better understanding the economy.
33. Dealbreaker: Dealbreaker offers business news, headlines, and financial gossip.
34. Megan McArdle: Megan McArdle writes this blog about economics, business, and more.
35. The Atlantic Business: This blog covers bankruptcy reform, cutting spending, and beyond.
36. SEC Data Guy: Check out this blog about SEC EDGAR data.
37. The Deal Professor: Steven M. Davidoff writes about the world of mergers and acquisitions.
38. I Will Teach You To Be Rich: Ramit Sethi’s blog offers the best of personal finance and entrepreneurship.
39. 10Q Detective: David Phillips digs through businesses’ SEC filings.
40. Calculated Risk: Bill McBride is a retired senior executive with a background in management, finance, and economics.

Educators

Learn from researchers, professors and more on these economics blogs.

41. Greg Mankiw’s Blog: This professor of economics offers random observations for students of economics.
42. Econbrowser: Econbrowser offers economics analysis from James D. Hamilton and Menzie Chinn.
43. Knowledge Problem: Lynne Kiesling and Michael Giberson offer their view on economics on Knowledge Problem.
44. The Everyday Economist: Josh Henderson of The Everyday Economists is a professor of microeconomics and econometrics at Wayne State University.
45. The Epicurean Dealmaker: The Epicurean Dealmaker discusses the world of mergers and acquisitions.
46. Grasping Reality with Both Hands: Brad DeLong is an economist at Berkeley that offers a reality based look at economics.
47. Ideas: David Friedman is a self-taught academic economist at a law school.
48. Economist’s View: Mark Thoma of University of Oregon offers his view on economics on this blog.
49. EclectEcon: EclectEcon delivers on the eclectic side of economics.
50. Robert Reich: Rober Reich is a former Secretary of Labor and professor at the University of California at Berkeley.
51. The Becker-Posner Blog: These two University of Chicago professors offer authorative learning in economics.
52. The Conscience of a Liberal: Paul Krugman discusses economics and politics in this blog.
53. Mises Economics Blog: This blog advances the scholarship of Ludwig von Mises.
54. MV=PQ: This blog offers a resource for economics educators concerned with economic and financial literacy issues.
55. The Seven Scholars: The Seven Scholars share a macro perspective on economics.
56. Aspiring Economist: The Aspiring Economist is a second year graduate student of economics.
57. Adam Smith’s Lost Legacy: This blog is a study on Adam Smith.
58. Aplia Econ Blog: The Aplia Econ Blog offers news that relates to your economics classes.
59. Economics Revealed!: Economics Revealed! will help you understand economic fundamentals by examining them in the real world.
60. Fly Bottle: Will Wilkinson is a research fellow at the Cato Institute.
61. Welker’s Wikinomics: Welker’s Wikinomics offers a collaborative platform for teaching and learning economics.

Markets

These blogs focus on markets and investment.

62. Winter Economic and Market Watch: Keep an eye on Wall Street on this blog.
63. American Association of Wine Economists: Here you’ll find a blog on the economics of wine and food.
64. The Health Economics Blog: With this blog, you’ll get insight into trends, politics, opinions, and more in biotech and pharmacy.
65. Curious Cat: Curious Cat discusses investing and economics on this blog.
66. Seeking Alpha: Seeking Alpha offers stock market news, investing ideas, and lots more.
67. A Dash of Insight: A Dash of Insight takes an eclectic approach to trading and investing.
68. Bronte Capitalism: This blog explores investment ideas from the position of learning what’s wrong.
69. Abnormal Returns: Abnormal Returns offers an investment blog that’s wide ranging and without forecasts.
70. Crossing Wall Street: Crossing Wall Street offers a guide to financial success.
71. naked capitalism: Get a stripped down look at capitalism on this blog.
72. Capital Gains and Games: Capital Gains and Games discusses Washington, Wall Street, and everything in between.
73. MarketBeat: Get an inside look at the markets from Wall Street Journal’s MarketBeat.

Hard Times

Learn about the recession and reform from these blogs.

74. Bankruptcy Beat: This blog offers a look at companies that are in trouble.
75. Dr. Housing Bubble: On Dr. Housing Bubble, you’ll get a look at the current real estate market.
76. TheMoneyIllusion: Check out this blog to learn about the problem of monetary policy.
77. Global Economics Watch: In this blog, you’ll find a global economic crisis resource center.
78. BailoutSleuth: Check out BailoutSleuth to get the lowdown on the latest bailouts.
79. Crisis Talk: Crisis Talk discusses emerging markets and the financial crisis.
80. Economy Watch: Frank Ahrens discusses the financial crisis.
81. Financial Armageddon: Financial Armageddon shares information about the coming economic unraveling.
82. Boom2Bust: Boom2Bust warns and educates its readers about the coming US financial crash.
83. The Baseline Scenario: This blog attempts to explain what happened to the global economy, and what we can do about it.
84. Infectious Greed: Learn about finance and the money culture from Paul Kedrosky.
85. The Big Do-Over: The Big Do-Over discusses fixing financial regulation.
86. Marginal Revolution: Marginal Revolution offers small steps toward a better world.

Policy

In these blogs, you’ll learn about the politics of economics.

87. The Hearing: The Hearing offers a decoding of economic policy debate.
88. Vox: Vox shares research-based policy analysis and commentary from leading economists.
89. Economic Policy Institute: The Economic Policy Institute offers research and ideas for shared prosperity.
90. Money & Policy: The New York Times examines money and policy on this blog.

Global Economy

Learn about economics around the world on these blogs.

91. Planet Money: Planet Money offers a discussion on the global economy.
92. A Fistful of Euros: Check out A Fistful of Euros to learn about European economic opinion.
93. Japan Economy Watch: Japan Economy Watch keeps an eye on Japan’s ongoing economic crisis.
94. Global Economy Matters: Edward Hugh examines the global economy on this blog.
95. Mish’s Global Economic Trend Analysis: Mike Shedlock shares analysis for global economic trends.
96. China Economics Blog: Read the China Economics Blog to learn about observations, statistics, and news related to China’s economy.

Sustainability

These blogs are concerned with economy that can continue to grow.

97. Oikos: Oikos focuses on environmental policy and its connection with the economy.
98. Block’s Indicator of Sustainable Growth: Find out how the economy can continue to grow from this blog.
99. Ecological Economics: Ecological Economics offers a cross-disciplinary conversation about economics and ecology.
100. Environmental Economics: Read this blog from economists about environmental and natural resources.

2009: Finland tops the global prosperity index:

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/54fd57dc-c18c-11de-b86b-00144feab49a.html?nclick_check=1

EU interactive guide to data sources:

The Telegraph website has a useful interactive guide to a selection of data on member countries inside the European Union. Our chart shows indices for GDP and there is also information the allocation of EU spending by country, population size and density.