Industrial policy, economic theory, and ecological planning

ABSTRACT

The resurgence of interest in industrial policy in both development economics and urban studies requires reflection. To learn lessons about the past and avoid potential problems about the future, our present actions must be informed by both our past experience and our expectations of the future. One way to do so is to review and ponder key studies in industrial policy. While research on the empirical consequences of industrial policy is quite advanced, theorising industrial policy across and within schools of economic thought requires more work. Within this gap, the neglect of land in theories of industrial policy is particularly conspicuous and serious.

KEYWORDS:

• Industrial policy
• spatial political economy
• land

Acknowledgements

Without implication, I thank Professor Jonathan Michie, Managing Editor of the International Review of Applied Economics, for his excellent feedback on earlier drafts of this essay.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.