The aim of this course is to use economic concepts to inform both firm operations as well as strategic positioning. This course thus consists of four main components:

a) Microeconomics – this section covers issues such as cost, pricing, competition, and competitive behavior,

b) Practical tools of business optimization, in particular the "art and science" of pricing,

c) Competitive analysis,

d) Macroeconomic policy and macro environment – this section focuses on the key concepts of growth- oriented policy, with applications to the main local economic sectors.