Protecting a nations economic potential: proposal for a scientific research agenda

This text provides an initial impetus for a scientific approach to the problem of protecting and safeguarding the Economic Potential (EP) of a nation or region. We approach this issue from a general as well as a specific - in this case, Belgian - per - spective. We establish that in spite of the strong political and public focus on this matter since 11 September 2001, scarcely any scientific supporting literature is available on an international level. In this contribution, we focus first on situating and defining a number of important concepts, in particular 'economic potential' and 'threat'. We conclude with a series of points of particular interest and provide an initiative for academic and policy recommendations that can serve as a source of inspiration for governments in the months and years to come. We call specifically for the creation of an advisory committee comprising experts from the government, the business world and academia to help narrow the gap in scientific research on protecting economic potential.