Growth strategies of small nations : with special reference to Ireland, Finland and Singapore

This thesis is based on the premise that small nations face unique challenges in the quest for economic prosperity. They have a small domestic economy and are more dependent than larger economies on international trade. Smallness typically entails a lack of breadth and depth in the national supply of capital, talent and knowledge. The development paths of three successful small nations - Ireland, Finland and Singapore - are analyzed to see how they overcome these unique challenges. Similarities and differences in their development strategies are examined. The typical model for assessing the microeconomic competitiveness of nations only looks within the national boundaries of an economy. In the context of a globalized world economy, it is appropriate to extend the model outside of national borders. Small nations that successfully tap on external markets, international flows of goods and services, and the global circulation of capital, talent and knowledge have bright prospects in a globalized knowledge economy.

Department dc:contributor.department

Sloan School of Management.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2004

Author dc:creator

• Yeo, Lionel, 1972-

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Lester C. Thurow.

• Sloan School of Management.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/17887

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/17887