The Belgian Economy – A History of Industrial Rise, Decline, and Revival – From Coal and Steel to Services and Sustainability: Understanding Belgium’s Economic Evolution and Strategic Sectors (C307-F-BV)

This course explores Belgium’s economic transformation from industrial powerhouse to diversified service economy. You’ll gain: Historical & Structural Foundations Understand the rise of coal, steel, textiles, and port logistics in the 19th-20th centuries Learn the impact of deindustrialization, EU integration, and regional economic divergence Explore the role of national planning, regional development agencies, and EU cohesion funds Sectoral Dynamics & Policy Tools Analyze key sectors: chemicals, pharmaceuticals, logistics, finance, agri-food, and green tech Examine labor market trends, productivity, and SME competitiveness Coordinate with regional governments, chambers of commerce, and EU industrial strategy Monitoring & Impact Track GDP composition, employment shifts, and trade balances Build dashboards for sectoral performance, ESG metrics, and innovation indicators Support transparency, policy evaluation, and strategic foresight Integration & Governance Align economic policy with climate goals, digital transformation, and social inclusion Embed circular economy, energy transition, and regional equity into growth models Monitor institutional coordination, reform agendas, and EU Semester targets Tools & Platforms Use platforms like Statbel, NBB, EU Open Data Portal, and regional economic observatories Automate data analysis, policy tracking, and sectoral benchmarking Monitor alerts, KPIs, and resilience indicators Strategic Impact Improve competitiveness, innovation, and sustainability Reduce regional disparities, carbon intensity, and economic vulnerability Support ESG goals, inclusive growth, and long-term resilience