Tiger, tiger, burning bright? Industrial policy “lessons” from Ireland for small African economies

David Bailey, Helena Lenihan, Ajit Singh

Research output: Chapter in Book/Published conference outputChapter

Abstract

The chapter examines possibilities for industrial policy in African countries through the lens of lessons that can be learned from the industrial policy approaches pursued in Ireland as well as in East Asia. As latecomers to industrialization, the small African economies are well positioned to undertake such an exercise, we suggest. This chapter provides some novel insights by providing a comparison between Ireland and the small African economies. To our knowledge such a comparison offers a unique contribution. Cognizant of the fact that a “one size fits all” approach to industrial policy is not appropriate in the African context, we argue in favor of the adoption of a more “holistic” approach to industrial policy in these economies. Such an approach we argue should focus simultaneously on demand and supply factors of industrial development, and on microeconomic as well as macroeconomic factors.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationGood growth and governance in Africa
Subtitle of host publicationrethinking development strategies
EditorsAkbar Noman, Kwesi Botchwey, Howard Stein, Joseph E. Stiglitz
Place of PublicationOxford (UK)
PublisherOxford University Press
Pages406-436
Number of pages31
ISBN (Print)978-0-19-969856-1, 978-0-19-969857-8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 22 Dec 2011

Publication series

NameInitiative for policy dialogue
PublisherOUP

Bibliographical note

A version of this material was originally published in Bailey, D, Lenihan, H & Singh, A 2011, 'Tiger, tiger, burning bright? Industrial policy “lessons” from Ireland for small African economies'. in A Noman, K Botchwey, H Stein & JE Stiglitz (eds), Good growth and governance in Africa: rethinking development strategies and has been reproduced by permission of Oxford University Press http://ukcatalogue.oup.com/product/9780199698561.do

Keywords

  • industrial policy
  • Irish economy
  • African economies
  • development state
  • SMEs
  • FDI
  • policy evaluation

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