CREATING AND SUSTAINING COMPETITIVE AND PROSPEROUS ECONOMIES

Creating and sustaining a prosperous society in today global economy requires a competitive economy, capable of creating and sustaining value added jobs.

This is not anymore a concern of the “developing countries” but also a key issue for some of the more advanced economies.

The sixth edition of the Competitiveness Summer School will offer an opportunity to economic policy makers and development professionals from all over the world to study and discuss the best practices in economic development, from a wide range of countries, from Denmark or Austria, to Brazil and Chile.

FROM BARCELONA TO WASHINGTON, DC

The School was hosted in its first four editions in Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia that symbolized in the 80s and 90s the transition from dictatorship and centralized economy to a consolidated democracy and decentralized economy. The Catalan example served as an encouragement to more than 300 students from many regions of the world that aspire to the same transformation.

Last year the School came to Washington, the capital of the multilateral economic development institutions and of the U.S. Government, in a moment when the paradigm of economic development based in technical assistance is being questioned, and a new paradigm based in local capacity building is emerging. The School wants to contribute the training materials it has developed, and the experience from its professors in building local capacity in Europe and Latin America, as inputs to the present discussion.

THE INDES/IDB 

The School will be hosted by the Inter-American Institute for Economic and Social Development (INDES) of the Inter-American Development Bank, from June 5th to 14th, offering two programs of four days that can be taken independently.

The Inter-American Institute for Economic and Social Development (INDES) was created in 1994 by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), with the objective of promoting knowledge and learning on topics of economic and social development in the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. Since 2007 INDES has became part of the Knowledge and Learning Sector (KNL), within the Vice Presidency for Sectors and Knowledge (VPS).

INDES mission is to contribute to increasing knowledge and strengthening skills of target audiences in the Region as well as IDB employees, required to promote economic and social development in Latin America and the Caribbean.

PRESENTING NEW CASES ON COMPETITIVENESS BEST PRACTICES

As in last year's edition, the case studies and materials developed for the European Cluster Excellence Initiative, by the International Center of Competitiveness at IESE Business School in Barcelona, as well as its partners REG-X (University of Southern Denmark) and Clusterland Upper Austria, will be the base of the 2012 CSS. All teaching uses the HBS case method, encouraging active participation of all students. It is very important that students read and prepare all cases before class, so all materials will be provided in the course web 15 days before the course starts. Further information on the case method can be found in (www.hbs.edu/teaching/inside-hbs).

During the first week, on Competitiveness Policy, from 5-8 June:

• Christian Ketels, Harvard University, will present the microeconomic framework of competitiveness, using the cases of Finland, Singapore, New York City and the California Wine Cluster
• Emiliano Duch, from IESE ICC and Competitiveness, will present the methodology for developing regional shared value through public-private Competitiveness Reinforcement Initiatives, using an award winning program in England and its impact in Tanzania.
• Jorgen Rosted, former Director of FORA, Denmark's research center on competitiveness and innovation, will present his experience in competitiveness policies with cases in screening, policy and evaluation in Denmark and Norway.
• A representative from the Inter-American Development Bank, will present the Bank’s experiences in Competitiveness Policy, Programs and their Evaluation.

During the second week, on Competitiveness Management, from 11-14 June:

• Pascual Berrone, from IESE Business School, introduces the Strategy Foundations of Competitiveness Management, using cases from Cirque du Soleil, ZARA and Antmobel.
• Emiliano Duch, from IESE ICC and Competitiveness, will present the practical application of cluster management, with examples from Sweden, Chile, Brazil, Austria and Norway.
• Werner Pamminger, CEO from Clusterland Upper Austria, will discuss his experience as CEO of the best practice regional competitiveness agency, in Austria.
• A representative from the Inter-American Development Bank, will present the Bank’s experiences in cluster based innovation and development programs.
• The students will present as well a practical exercise. 

A ROUND TABLE ON VIEWS ON COMPETITIVENESS AND PROSPERITY ACROSS THE ATLANTIC

A roundtable session to discuss “The challenges ahead for building competitive and prosperous societies" will be held on June 8th from 1:00 to 4:00pm. The discussants will be professionals from leading Washington-based development institutions, like the World Bank, USAID and IADB, and from the United States government, and the School's professors. All students, from both weeks, are welcome to participate in this session.