Course Syllabus

Course Description

In the past few years, the turbulence that the global economy has experienced has led to increasing uncertainties and changes, challenging growth expectations worldwide and highlighting the need for understanding economic strategies and components of competitiveness. As we reflect on what makes Sweden maintain its edge in the global economy (or challenge whether that is true or not), we turn to examine a variety of industries to investigate the economic conditions and the markets in which they operate.

This course explores the economic competitiveness of Swedish industries within the context of a rapidly changing global economy. You will learn how to collect data through a variety of means, practice the use of a few analytical tools, and work together to both present your work and evaluate the works of others. 

Learning Objectives

By the end of the course, students are expected to…

• …know how to analyze the competitive advantages of Swedish industries in the global market.
• …understand the role of industrial clusters in promoting competitiveness.
• …analyze the strengths and challenges of the Swedish economy.
• …identify strategies for enhancing international competitiveness in the global marketplace.
• …explore policies and strategies that support Sweden’s economic competitiveness and sustainability.
• …develop critical thinking and analytical skills through coursework.

Faculty

Fairouz Hussien (Ph.D. Stockholm School of Economics; M.Sc. Hanken School of Economics; co-founder of the SSE Methods Lab) is the course director and main lecturer of the elective course Economic Competitiveness in a Changing Global Economy: Swedish Industries.

Readings

While this course is oriented to focus more on practical application, there are reading expectations to further enhance the learning of all participants. Below you will find the list of expected readings, all of which will be available for download in the Modules.

1. Siudek, T. & Zawojska, A. (2014) Competitiveness in the economic concepts, theories and empirical research. Economica 13(1), p.91-108
2. Simoni, M., & Vlandas, T. (2020). Labour market liberalization and the rise of dualism in Europe as the interplay between governments, trade unions and the economy. Social Policy & Administration. https://doi.org/10.1111/spol.12648
3. Porter, M. E. (1998). Clusters and the new economics of competition. Harvard Business Review, 76(6), 77–90.
4. Feser, E., Renski, H., & Goldstein, H. (2008). Clusters and Economic Development Outcomes: An Analysis of the Link Between Clustering and Industry Growth. Economic Development Quarterly, 22(4), 324-344. https://doi.org/10.1177/0891242408325419
5. Gérard-Varet, L.-A. (1995). On pricing the priceless: Comments on the economics of the visual art market. European Economic Review, 39(3-4), 0–518. https://doi.org/10.1016/0014-2921(94)00057-7
6. Spaenjers, C., Goetzmann, W. N., & Mamonova, E. (2015). The economics of aesthetics and record prices for art since 1701. Explorations in Economic History, 57, 79-94. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eeh.2015.03.003
7. Swedish Bankers' Association. (2023). Banks in Sweden 2022. [PDF document]. Retrieved from https://www.swedishbankers.se/media/5531/banks-in-sweden-2022.pdf
8. Swedish Mining Innovation. (2022). Roadmap 2022. Swedish Mining Innovation. https://www.swedishmininginnovation.se/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Roadmap-2022_eng-1.pdf
9. Wisell, K., Winblad, U., & Sporrong, S. K. (2015). Reregulation of the Swedish pharmacy sector—A qualitative content analysis of the political rationale. Health Policy, 119(5), 648–653. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthpol.2015.03.009
10. Ibsen, C.L., Sezer, L. & Doellgast, V. (2023) Coordination versus organization: Diverging logics of firm cooperation in Denmark and Sweden. British Journal of Industrial Relations, 61, 526–549. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjir.12704
11. Coetzee, W. S., & Berndtsson, J. (2023). Understanding Sweden’s security economy. Defense & Security Analysis, 39(2), 171-190. https://doi.org/10.1080/14751798.2023.2182479
12. Royal Swedish Academy of Agriculture and Forestry. (2015). Forests and forestry in Sweden. https://www.ksla.se/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Forests-and-Forestry-in-Sweden_2015.pdf

Field Studies

This course will have multiple field studies, for which we will often meet outside of DIS. This means that your awareness of announcements on Canvas is of heightened importance. Staying informed is your responsibility. To make this easier, you are expected to join the course's WhatsApp group (accessible through Module 1).

Assignments

All tasks (instructions + submission boxes + deadlines) are accessible through the "assignments" tab. Your course performance will be evaluated based on the following:

Participation: this portion includes attendance and an engagement task (please read carefully). This amounts to 20% of your grade.

Course Project: this portion includes your final report + the presentation you will be making based on it. This amounts to 30% of your grade.

Session Assignments: this portion includes all the tasks you are expected to submit in relation to specific session/visits/guest lectures. Please read through it carefully, as tasks differ from week to week. This amounts to 50% of your grade.

Academic Regulations 

Please make sure to read the Academic Regulations on the DIS website. There you will find regulations on:

• Course Enrollment and Grading
• Academic Expectations and Honor Code

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