Reinventing Modern European Industrial Policy – A Regional Response to the Crisis

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to show that the current European Union (EU) legal framework is unnecessarily restrictive and unduly suppresses economic and developmental initiatives in many stagnating regions across Europe. More innovative industrial policies, instruments and measures should be adopted in a highly decentralized manner across the EU. Between the ‘laissez-faire’ and ‘dirigiste’ approaches, there is significant room to maneuver for more pro-active industrial and development policies. New forms of industrial policies could and should be reinvented and implemented across the EU – not to harm or distort competition, but rather to further enhance it. More than one form and framework exist for a Single Market and for the competition policies.Modern industrial policy presupposes high-quality public institutions with highly competent administration. It requires autonomy and accountability of the public administration to counter the pressures of various interest groups. The proposal to revive and articulate modern types of industrial policies across the EU is a call for comprehensive economic and social restructuring. The task of modern industrial policy is to organize and strengthen capabilities of restructuring in the direction of high-productivity activities.

Careless whispers: confidentiality and board-level worker representatives

“…In general, for worker representatives, being adequately informed does not just represent the fulfilment of legal obligations, but, as many studies have confirmed, the more information such representatives receive on management decisions, the stronger their motivation to work in the interests of the company (Looise et al, 2011). Moreover, there is evidence to suggest that collaboration between works councils, trade unions and board-level worker representatives is not only beneficial in terms of worker participation, it can also lead to more successful corporate decision-making (Van den Berg, 2004;Nahtigal, 2014). Placing limits on managerial prerogative in the context of board-level decision-making context can have benefits, in that it can ensure closer, and more-disciplined, consideration of the board-level issues under discussion ( Van den Berg, 2004).…”

Made @ Europe - Manufacturing location decisions for the 21st century

“…'There is therefore a compelling need to reconsider the rules of the game constraining the exercise of industrial policy (…)' (United Nations (Lall), 2004). Nahtigal continues to state that in the European Union countries should adopt 'more innovative industrial policies' (Nahtigal, 2014). Research on what are the expected relevant future location factors for what is considered the backbone of the economy, can help governments make the right choices on the topic of Industrial policy.…”