Seminar: Er fælles EU-målsætninger for Industriel udvikling vejen frem?

Time: Friday, 4 February, at 9.00-11.30 hours

Venue: Danish Institute for International Studies, Main Auditorium, ground floor, Strandgade 71, Christianshavn, 1401 Kbn K

Background

Time: Friday, 4 February, at 9.00-11.30 hours

Venue: Danish Institute for International Studies, Main Auditorium, ground floor, Strandgade 71, Christianshavn, 1401 Kbn K

Background

Industrial policy is on the rise. Despite fiscal austerity in the UK, for instance, the British government recently launched a comprehensive industrial policy. And for the first time ever, the European Union now has a common industrial policy: “An Integrated Industrial Policy for the Globalisation Era”

But what about the World Bank and its advice to developing countries? For decades industrial policy was a forbidden phrase in the Bank – but perhaps this is changing now, as industrial policy becomes more fashionable (again) in developed countries?

At first scrutiny, the evidence seems mixed. With the appointment of Chinese national Justin Lin as the World Bank’s chief economist, discussions of industrial policy are allowed and tolerated, even if not widely supported, in the Bank’s development research department (DEC).

But what about the operational level; are there any signs of a revival of interest in industrial policy there?

Again, the answer seems to lie somewhere between a yes and a no. There is indeed interest in some forms of industrial policy, but the term itself is still so controversial that new names must be invented to get programs and projects going; ‘competitiveness partnerships’ is the new preferred nomenclature.

Irrespective of such ‘name games’, there are a number of important issues that merit significant attention: Will industrial policy come to play a more central role in development strategies for developing countries in coming years? If so, which specific forms of industrial policy are most likely to be pursued and encouraged by the Bank? And last but not least, is industrial policy likely to be back to stay in the Bank’s development policy advice – or is the recent interest little but a passing fad?

Two leading international scholars on development, industrial policy, and the World Bank –Ha-Joon Chang and Robert Wade – will present their views on these issues.

SPEAKERS
*Robert Wade, Professor, London School of Economics and Political Science, UK
*Ha-Joon Chang, Reader, University of Cambridge, UK
*Laurids Sandager Lauridsen, Professor, Roskilde University
*Jakob Vestergaard, Senior Researcher, DIIS

Chair: Jakob Vestergaard, Senior Researcher, DIIS

PROGRAMME
09.00-09.10
Introduction by Jakob Vestergaard, Senior Researcher, DIIS

09.10-09.50
After the Crisis: Industrial Policy and the Developmental State in Low-Income Countries – Robert Wade, Professor, LSE, UK

09.50-10.05
Coffee Break

10.05-10.45
Hamlet without the Prince of Denmark: How Development Disappeared from Today’s ‘Development’ Discourse – Ha-Joon Chang, Reader, University of Cambridge, UK

10.45-11.00
Discussant – Laurids Sandager Lauridsen, Professor, Roskilde University

11.00-11.30
Comments and questions

The seminar will be held in English.

Participation is free of charge, but registration is required. Please use the online registration form.

And do so no later than Thursday 3 February at 12.00 noon

Please await confirmation by e-mail from DIIS for participation.

Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS), The Conference Section, Strandgade 56, 1401 Kbn K, tlf. 32 69 87 51, e-mail: [email protected] og web: www.diis.dk