Starting March 19, the course “Microeconomics of Competitiveness” will welcome its new class in the building of the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration. Hurry up, as places are very limited and the application deadline is March 17! Don’t miss the opportunity to become part of this exciting challenge. The course is free of charge, and more information can be found here: https://economicstrategy.org/moc/

Brief introduction to “Microeconomics of Competitiveness”

Microeconomics of Competitiveness (MOC) is a special course developed at Harvard Business School by Professor Michael Porter and his colleagues from the Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness at Harvard University. It is designed to be taught at selected universities around the world.

The course approaches competitiveness and economic development from a bottom-up, microeconomic perspective, which is often missing in most traditional lecture courses on economic development. Beyond delivering knowledge, the course is intended to serve as a tool enabling universities to influence and support the process of economic development in their country or region.

In addition to preparing future leaders in business and public administration in the core principles of competitiveness, the course can also be adapted and incorporated into programs for current executives. It has the potential to become a focal point for projects and initiatives that involve universities in shaping economic policy and business development in cooperation with government and the private sector. The vision of the course is to contribute positively to the economic competitiveness and progress of the countries where it is taught.

The course analyzes the factors behind national and regional competitiveness from the perspective of firms, clusters, regions, countries, and groups of neighboring countries. While sound macroeconomic policies, stable legal and political institutions, and improved social conditions expand the potential for high competitiveness, prosperity is ultimately created at the microeconomic level. The technological sophistication and productivity of firms, the vitality of clusters, and the quality of the business environment in which competition takes place are the true determinants of productivity in a country or region.

The course examines not only theory and policies but also the organizational and institutional structures, as well as the processes of change required for the sustainable improvement of competitiveness.

Main topics of the course “Microeconomics of Competitiveness”

• Firms, industries, and international competition
• Regions and clusters
• Policies for countries and regions
• Advanced topics: Attracting foreign investment
• The process of economic development

Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” – Faculty of Economics and Business Administration is part of the global network of institutions teaching the course “Microeconomics of Competitiveness” and offers the program to support the needs of Bulgarian companies, public institutions, and non-governmental organizations.