competitiveness and economic development.docVIP

Clusters, Competitiveness and Economic Development Fall 2008 Class Web Page: Dr. Douglas Woodward Professor of Economics Moore School of Business University of South Carolina Phone and Voice Mail: 803-777-4424 E-mail: woodward@ The University of South Carolina’s Moore School of Business has joined with Harvard Business School Professor Michael Porter to offer a unique business and economic development course. The course, open to undergraduates and graduates, draws on a series of dynamic lectures and interesting cases developed by Porter, reflecting his extensive experience working with governments, industries, and firms to improve competitiveness.? Professor Woodward, the Moore School’s director of research and faculty member in economics, attended training seminars with Professor Porter. He has fine-tuned the course to the needs of the Moore School program. The course will explore the determinants of economic prosperity—stressing the role of industry clusters and innovation. In this microeconomic theory advanced by Porter, firm strategies act as prime movers in economic development. Above all, the course intends to stimulate new thinking about how to increase living standards and improve economic competitiveness. Many classes will be based around case discussions. We will draw on lessons from the diverse experiences of countries and regions around the world—from Singapore to Spain to the Silicon Valley in California. These cases show how successful countries and regions have acted to advance the interests of local industries as well as the broader national economy. The readings and class discussions will be supplemented by video lectures at Harvard Business School. We also examine South Carolina’s economic development prospects in context of the global challenges the state faces in the early 21st century. This course represents an exciting opportunity for Moore School students to connect with a world-wide network of universities (mostly business schools) studying