Industrial Policies

The chapter argues the importance of Industrial Policies in identifying the reasons behind the socio-economic successes and failures of many EU countries. The first part of the chapter defines industrial policies, focusing on what they do and how they do it, and emphasizes why these policies should be seriously considered by comparative political economy. However, we argue that it is necessary to also consider where the industrial policies are planned and implemented. In particular, we find it useful to explore the where in two aspects, which only seem to be in opposition. The first refers to the institutional and territorial scales within which industrial policies take shape and are implemented. The second aspect refers to the new organizational models, such as the platform form of organization, which have distinctive characteristics compared to traditional forms of organization and are only seemingly disconnected from territories. Digital platforms are not just one sector - in which industrial policies play a particularly important role - but are a new organizational model that is spreading across all sectors. The ability of different countries to implement industrial policies appropriate to this new organizational model determines their competitiveness in the new conflicts arising at global level.