Swedish Entrepreneurship Forum publishes approximately 10-15 research reports, working papers and policy briefs each year.
Listed below are a selection of these publications in English. To see all publications please visit the Swedish site.
On Knowledge and Economic Transformation
This manuscript documents the 2022 Swedish Schumpeter Lecture, given by professor Stan Metcalfe in Gothenburg in December 2022. Metcalfe shares his view, seen through the writings of Joseph Schumpeter and Alfred Marshall, on the role of innovation in creating wealth from knowledge.
Rethinking boundaries and revisiting borders - Conditions for innovation, entrepreneurship and economic integration in an interconnected world
In this anthology the authors examine how the conditions for future innovation, entrepreneurship and economic integration are being shaped by geopolitical power tensions and changing geo-economic realities. The contributors in this volume provide unique perspectives and insights into how the balance between digital interconnectivity, boundaries for economic and social exchanges, and national borders is changing.
Innovation, Competition and Digital Platform Paradoxes
There is a growing debate about how digital platform companies, or ‘big tech’, influence innovation and competition in the European digital economy. Are they helping or hampering competitiveness? In this debate, a lot of the arguments draw on research and policy rationales that do not take the particularities of multisided platform economies fully into account. This paper approach the discussions based on the specific role of multisided platform economies and how the value of information coordination has changed in the wake of digitalisation
Policy Papers on Technology, Economics and Structural Change 2021.
Swedish Economic Forum Report 2019 – Entrepreneurial Education
Swedish Entrepreneurship Forum’s annual report 2019 focuses on entrepreneurial education. Here you can download the two chapters in English in the report by Saras D. Sarasvathy and Niels Bosma.
Swedish Economic Forum Report 2018
Chapter 2, 3, 4 and 7 from Swedish Economic Forum Report 2018. In Navigating under uncertainty – entrepreneurship, innovations and experimental policy, continuous adaptability is lifted as a critical factor in maintaining high prosperity.
Swedish Entrepreneurship Forum presents this research publication for the tenth consecutive year in conjunction with the Swedish Economic Forum conference.
The Swedish Competitiveness Scorecard 2017 (Chapter 2 in Swedish Economic Forum Report 2017)
What factors are important for long-term Swedish competitiveness and the ability to generate growth? In this year’s Swedish Economic Forum Report you get the answers. Based in the importance of knowledge building for Swedish competitiveness, through the prerequisites for entrepreneurship and value creation, policy-relevant proposals are provided for how Sweden can maintain long-term value in the economy.
Swedish Entrepreneurship Forum presents this research publication for the ninth consecutive year in conjunction with the Swedish Economic Forum conference.
GO Beyond GDP
Since 2014, the US uses GO – Gross Output – as a complementary measure of GDP. GO, gross production, is a more complete measure of the overall economic activity of a nation. According to Mark Skousen, one of the world’s most influential economists who introduced GO in the US, focus is shifted from households and private consumption to corporate investment, innovation and entrepreneurship, which actually drives a country’s overall economic outcome.
Creating impact through philanthropy – a Nordic perspective
Evidence is gathering that philanthropy serves society in a number of ways. It provides private resources to build public goods such as schooling, health care, and academic research, and it introduces new and innovative ways of addressing old problems. Still, knowledge about philanthropy is quite limited in the Nordic economies, a feature shared with many other countries.
There is an obvious demand for a more comprehensive understanding of motivations, practices, aspirations, and challenges associated with philanthropy and social engagement. The aim of this particular study is therefore to deepen our knowledge
about the practice and impact of philanthropic giving in the Nordic countries, emphasizing the drivers to engage in philanthropy and lessons learnt from previous experiences.
Organizational Capabilites for Small Firms’ Competitiveness
An increasing number of manufacturing companies such as Ericsson, Volvo and SAAB are today increasing investments in innovation by combining existing products with advanced industrial service innovations.. Vinit Parida, researcher at Luleå University of Technology and recipient of the 2016 Young Research Prize, has in several studies analyzed companies’ abilities to use digitization and networking to address the challenges and opportunities companies face.
Swedish Economic Forum Report 2016 – Immigration, Economic Integration and Entrepreneurship
The Report Immigration, Economic Integration and Entrepreneurship aims to focus on how we can better exploit the economic potential of immigrants. The authors mainly analyze four ways of economic integration – education, reduction of minimum wages, employment support and entrepreneurship.
Blockchain – Decentralized Trust
The report presents the blockchain, the technology behind as well as its development and impact. Blockchain technology enables sharing of information, assets and values between different parties globally, without intermediaries. Possible consequences of a widespread future use of the technology are investigated and a number of exciting future scenarios are presented.
The Entrepreneurial Challenge – A Comparative Study of Entrepreneurial Dynamics in China, Europe and the US
Based on the 2015 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor data, the report investigates similarities and differences between the dominant economic regions in terms of entrepreneurship, entrepreneurs’ ambition to grow, internationalize, as well as entrepreneurship attitudes.
International Market Exit and Re-entry: An empirical study of export patterns of Swedish SMEs
The report identifies the internationalization patterns of Swedish SMEs. Specifically, the authors look at how, and why companies make exit from international markets and whether they return or seek new markets. In addition, the authors present a number of recommendations for how Swedish SMEs can be supported in their internationalization efforts.
A Review of the Circular Economy and its Implementation
Circular economy (CE) which was introduced in 1990 is a sustainable development strategy proposed to tackle urgent problems of environmental degradation and resource scarcity. The 3R principles of CE are to reduce, reuse and recycle materials. Unlike the current linear system these principles account for a circular system where all materials are recycled, all energy is derived from renewables, activities support and rebuild the eco-system and resources are used to generate value and support human health and a healthy society.
Swedish Economic Forum Report 2015 - Profits, welfare and entrepreneurship (Chapter 2 and 3 in English)
Private sector welfare providers sometimes give rise to an intense debate. Mainly, the question about whether the profits private welfare companies make on tax money grants are consistent with – or contrary to – high quality welfare services. Clearly, the motivation the profit gives entrepreneurs are key to innovation and efficiency efforts, which could provide positive welfare effects. At the same time there are challenges and needs for clear rules.
The Entrepreneurial Code – A Comparative Study of Entrepreneurial Dynamics in China, Europe and the U.S.
The report examines similarities and differences between the dominant economic regions in terms of entrepreneurship, entrepreneurs’ ambition to grow, internationalize, as well as attitudes towards entrepreneurship. The report is based on the previous year’s data from Global Entrepreneurship Monitor.
Sharing Economy - Embracing change with caution
The Sharing Economy has been the subject of considerable interest among policy makers across the globe. This report begins by developing a pragmatic definition of the Sharing Economy. Next, the report describes global Sharing Economy trends, followed by an examination of the Sharing Economy in Sweden. Subsequent sections address regulatory considerations and potential economic implications. The report concludes with a discussion of possible policy responses.
Immigrants and the Internationalization of Business – Do they Increase Service Exports
This policy brief outlines how migration can promote the internationalization of companies. With the help of detailed register data of Swedish companies, it gives new insights about the role that foreigners can play for internationalization in the form of services. Thus, it contributes to a greater understanding of the driving force of internationalization in general and, more specifically, what migration can bring to Sweden’s economy.
Sources of capital for innovative startup firms
The report describes how the capital supply looks like for innovative startup companies in Sweden. Lack of funding is often identified as an obstacle to the emergence and development of these companies, which is a problem as innovative startup companies are play an important role in the creation of new jobs and growth.
20 Years of Entrepreneurship Research –From small business dynamics to entrepreneurial growth and societal prosperity
This book celebrates Swedish Entrepreneurship Forum’s twentieth anniversary and 20 years of research on entrepreneurship, SMEs and innovation. As the past 20 years have shown, the research problems are both complex and diverse and span several disciplines.
The emergence of China and India as new innovation power houses – threat or opportunity?
The report analyzes global innovation dynamics and the effects of R & D increase in India and China.
3D printing – Economic and Public Policy Implications
The report analyze the economic effects of 3D printing and future uses. The report collects opinions from experts who specialize in 3D printing and highlights examples of public initiatives to strengthen competition, encourage innovation and ensure skill growth in the 3D sector.
Mobilising Private Funds for the Transition to a Sustainable Economy
This report studies private investment in green investments, links theory and policy and proposes future research areas.
Swedish Economic Forum Report 2013 – Institutioner och incitament för innovation
In this policy brief, based on the Swedish Economic Forum Report 2013, the report writers present the recipe to promote tomorrow’s successful job-creating entrepreneurs. A crucial factor is a functioning interaction between new growth companies and established companies. The latter are nursery schools for new fast growing companies. The prerequisites for new growth companies are therefore linked to Sweden’s ability to retain and remain attractive as the location of the major knowledge and technology-intensive multinational companies.
Cloud Computing – Challenges and Opportunities for Swedish Entrepreneurs
What does the so-called “Cloud” mean for Swedish economy and the Swedish business community? Today many argue that we are faced with an even bigger paradigm shift – cloud services and socioeconomic spreading effects linked to the Cloud. The cloud service economy builds on the Internet, with the big difference that the user can now get so much more out of being connected to the Internet. How well prepared are we to take on the new technology and what does it mean for the long-term global competitiveness of Swedish business?
Swedish Economic Forum Report 2012 – Entrepreneurship, norms and the business Cycle
The world is about to enter 2013 into its sixth crisis year. Can entrepreneurship be a way out of the crisis when traditional macroeconomic stabilization policies failed to reverse the negative trend? In this year’s (2012) Swedish Economic Forum Report: Entrepreneurship, the norms and the business cycle shows that policy measures can dampen the effects of a downturn. Seven internationally-active researchers claim that entrepreneurship can be a possible way out of the crisis
Sweden’s position in the global economy
The report Sweden’s Position in the Global Economy provides a broad overview of the various factors that underlie Sweden’s competitiveness. How well positioned is Sweden to handle future challenges, global structural changes and increasing global competition? What areas should decision-makers prioritize in order to lay the foundation for continued prosperity in the future? The report gives a number of proposals for various policy changes that would strengthen Sweden’s competitiveness.
The current state of the venture capital industry
Rapporten The current state of the venture capital industry beskriver den svenska riskkapitalsektorns utveckling och struktur. Den ger ett internationellt perspektiv på den svenska riskkapitalsektorn och analyserar tillgången på riskkapital och alternativa finansieringsformer för nystartade företag. Vidare diskuteras hur krisåren påverkat utbudet av riskkapital. Rapporten mynnar ut i en rad policyförslag på hur politiken kan utformas för att stödja entreprenörskap och underlätta finansieringen av nya företag.
Internationalization competence of SMEs
Exports have a positive impact on economic growth. Exporting companies often have higher productivity compared to non-exporting companies. The report highlights the issue of internationalization competence in SMEs through a comprehensive literature study of existing empirical findings focusing on internationalization barriers and relevant competency types.
An Innovation Strategy for Sweden – Swedish Economic Forum Report 2010
This year’s Swedish Economic Forum Report, An innovation strategy for Sweden, presents the idea of introducing an innovation policy framework in order to create trustworthy long term conditions that will serve to augment growth and raise prosperity in the Swedish economy. This proposal is inspired by the Swedish fiscal policy framework, introduced after the crisis in the early 1990s, that has strongly contributed to the country’s rapid emergence from the global financial crisis and strong macroeconomic position