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Industrial policy is government policy to encourage the development and growth of all or part of the economy in pursuit of some public goal.[1][2][3][4] Historically, it has often focused on the manufacturing sector, militarily important sectors, or on fostering an advantage in new technologies. In industrial policy, the government takes measures "aimed at improving the competitiveness and capabilities of domestic firms and promoting structural transformation".[5] A country's infrastructure (including transportation, telecommunications and energy industry) is a major enabler of industrial policy.[6]
Industrial policies are interventionist measures typical of mixed economy countries. Many types of industrial policies contain common elements with other types of interventionist practices such as trade policy. Industrial policy is usually seen as separate from broader macroeconomic policies, such as tightening credit and taxing capital gains. Traditional examples of industrial policy include subsidizing export industries and import-substitution-industrialization (ISI), where trade barriers are temporarily imposed on some key sectors, such as manufacturing.[7] By selectively protecting certain industries, these industries are given time to learn (learning by doing) and upgrade. Once competitive enough, these restrictions are lifted to expose the selected industries to the international market.[8] More contemporary industrial policies include measures such as support for linkages between firms and support for upstream technologies.[9]
Economists have debated the role of industrial policy in fostering industrialization and economic development.[1][10] They have also debated concerns that industrial policy threatens free trade and international cooperation.[11]