Economics: Economic Growth

<p>How come that those of us who live in Sweden today have higher incomes than people who lived 50 or 100 years ago? Why are some countries wealthy while others have lower income? Is it sustainable for income levels to keep rising? How can we influence the development using economic policy?</p><p>During the course, you will analyse the questions raised in the introduction, along with many other issues related to the long-term growth processes in the economy. You will discover that the factors driving the economy’s long-term development differ from those that are most important in the short term. You will identity the key factor behind long-term economic growth.</p><p>You will gain an overview of theories explaining how innovation, education and investment contribute to growth and thereby to higher long-term income. You will also examine how economic policy can influence growth. Through an in-depth discussion of institutional and other societal conditions, you will enhance your understanding of why countries differ in terms of investment in growth-promoting measures. You will also consider whether continuous long-term growth is possible and, if so, whether it is sustainable.</p><p>An important part of the course is applying theories and models to the analysis of real world issues. You will be trained both in theoretically grounded analysis and in using data to analyse and assess the long-term economic development of real-world countries. You will use the same databases that are used by, for example, the United Nations and leading researchers in the field of growth.</p>