Government, Industry and Political Economy

This book presents a detailed analysis of contemporary industrial policy in Britain. After an introduction to the nature of industrial policy, a number of different views about the role of the state in relation to industry and the economy are examined. A discussion of the major characteristics of the UK's industrial structure follows, concentrating on the most significant debates over the last 15 years. The parts played by political parties and the major organized interests in developing various industrial policies are dissected. There is a detailed examination of major areas of contempory industrial policy, including privatization, monopolies and mergers, regional policy, small business and local initiatives. The book concludes by posing the question, "could policy-makers have done better?"