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Lessons on industrial policy from industrial organization: Introduction to the special issue

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  • Van Biesebroeck, Johannes
  • Zhang, Hongsong

Abstract

We start by positioning this Special Issue in the literature and explain the scope and focus that we aimed for. Next, we briefly summarize the seventeen included papers, organized in four main themes. Finally, we discuss four lessons that we, as editors and Industrial Organization (IO) researchers, draw from these papers and from our year-long engagement with the broader industrial policy literature. These are (1) the dependency of the effects of industrial policy interventions on the prevailing market structure, (2) the vital role of localizing the supply chain, (3) the role of government policy as a coordination device across market actors, and (4) how successful policy can deal with the difficulty of picking winners.

Suggested Citation

  • Van Biesebroeck, Johannes & Zhang, Hongsong, 2026. "Lessons on industrial policy from industrial organization: Introduction to the special issue," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 104(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:indorg:v:104:y:2026:i:c:s0167718725001092
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ijindorg.2025.103243
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    References listed on IDEAS

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