Dynamics and growth the health care industry

Sammanfattning: This dissertation uses the theory of the experimentallyorganised economy (EOE) and competence blocs to analyseeconomic development in the health care industry. The healthcare industry is both important and interesting to study fromseveral points of view. The industry is large, even larger thanthe manufacturing industry, and draws significantresources.The theory of the EOE and competence blocs is bothevolutionary and dynamic. It identifies the actors needed foran efficient selection and commercialisation of investmentprojects and the competences needed to support that process.For this, the institutional setting is important in thatinstitutions influence the incentives that guide actors in theeconomy and the nature of competitionthat forces change.Four empirical studies are carried out using severalempirical methods to study similar problems, ranging fromeconometric analyses of panel micro data to case studies. Weask if the withdrawal of a major employer (Pharmacia) from aregion (Uppsala) has had a negative effect on employmentgrowth. We then ask if the turnover of establishments has hadany effect on regional employment growth. We find no supportfor the first question. However, the regional turnover ofestablishments is found to have had a positive effect onregional employment growth, illustrating how important thisdynamic is for the economy. In addition, a case study of theintroduction of two almost identical innovations in twodifferent competence bloc environments, that of the US and thatof Sweden, captures the whole process from invention toinnovation and diffusion in the market. We find that without acomplete competence bloc the risk is high of?loosing awinner?. Finally, we study the role of the technologytransfer process from university to industry for thecommercialisation of new inventions. Among other things, thestudy illustrates how institutional changes, such as theBayh-Dole Act, have created positive effects for theeconomy.The Experimentally Organised Economy; Competence Blocs;Industrial Dynamics; Health Care Industry; IndustrialTransformation; Regional Turnover of Establishments; CaseStudies; Technology Transfer