Introduction to Industrial Policy and Development
Industrial policy has a long history both in practice and in theory. It became a leading focus of development research and policy analysis after the end of the Second World War, although its meaning, scope, and instruments have varied significantly, and it has been the subject of sustained criticism and debate, especially during the 1980s and 1990s. Noting that industrial policy in fact never went away, and at a moment when it has returned to centre stage, this volume offers a comprehensive reference work that presents different schools of thought regarding industrial policy and reflects the evolution in contemporary thinking, alongside empirical evidence from advanced, emerging, and developing economies. This volume also makes the connection between industrial policy and other policies. The volume reviews the theoretical perspectives and methodological aspects of the study of industrial policy, and uses case studies of policies and practices to offer new insights for policymakers, practitioners, and policy researchers. Contributors identify and assess evolving challenges to industrial policy and the shifting terrain of the industrial. They emphasize a political economy approach rather than reducing industrial policy to a technical exercise. The Handbook is forward looking, while also presenting a comprehensive review of the evolving context and trajectories of industrial policy.