Chinas Industriepolitik: auf dem Wege zu einem neuen Erfolgsmodell?

China’s industrial policy has more similarities with industrial policy approaches in Japan and South Korea than with those pursued in Western industrialized countries. By targeting specific industries and regions, the Chinese government applies a vertical industrial policy in order to influence the speed and direction of structural changes. The design and enforcement of industrial policies and programmes is, however, restricted by the huge size of the country, clashes of interest between central government and local governments, the strong position of state-owned enterprises and the peculiarities of the political system. China’s industrial policies focused initially on catching-up in traditional industries through transfer of technology from foreign companies. Currently, the government is aiming at a more indigenous innovation-driven and sustainable development. Against the background of demographic change and mounting labour costs the need to increase productivity has also become an important goal for China. Because of the global economic importance of China the ability to successfully re-direct the country’s growth model and achieve the associated industrial restructuring will also have an important impact on other countries.