Whatever Happened to Industry Policy in Australia?

Since the 1980s and early 1990s, there have been few constructive developments towards a comprehensive and coherent productivity-enhancing agenda. Labor governments have often provided rhetorical support but have fought over whether industry policy represents a new protectionism or market-enhancing...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Australian journal of political science 2011-09, Vol.46 (3), p.503-517
Main Authors: Conley, Tom, van Acker, Elizabeth
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
1980s
Advocacy
Australia
Australia: Economic history
Australia: Industry policy
Climate change
Coalitions
Development Policy
Economic development
Economic Recession
Economic Structure
Industrial policy
Industry
Intervention
Labour parties
Manufacturing
Market theory
Markets
Motor cars
Political economy
Political science
Protectionism
Structural adjustment
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Summary:Since the 1980s and early 1990s, there have been few constructive developments towards a comprehensive and coherent productivity-enhancing agenda. Labor governments have often provided rhetorical support but have fought over whether industry policy represents a new protectionism or market-enhancing development policy. The Coalition in opposition and in office has generally opposed the idea of industry policy, but has continued to support ad hoc and costly policy interventions. Australia's 20 years without a recession has disguised the need to reconsider industry policy and questions of economic diversity. This article argues that dealing with problems of economic structure - particularly resource dependence and climate change adaptation - requires a revitalisation of the industry policy debate. It tracks the theory and practice of industry policy in Australia and concludes that advocates for industry policy must formulate new policy ideas outside the framework of the traditional divide between intervention and free markets.
ISSN:1036-1146
1363-030X
DOI:10.1080/10361146.2011.596522