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 business environment in which competition takes place, are the ultimate determinants of a nation's or region's productivity. This course is taught in collaboration with the Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness led by Michael Porter at Harvard Business School.