Industrial Development for the 21st Century

With very few exceptions, industrial development has been central to the process of structural transformation which characterizes economic development. Industrial Development for the 21st Century examines the new challenges and opportunities arising from globalization, technological change, new international trade rules and emerging global environment challenges. The first part provides key analytical perspectives and empirical evidence on industrial development, while the second part focuses on key sectors with potential for developing countries. Two key themes emerge. First, traditional points of entry for late industrializers–like textiles and clothing — have become even more intensely competitive than ever before, requiring more innovative adaptive strategies for success. Second, countries now recognize that manufacturing does not exhaust the opportunities for producing high-value-added goods and services for international market. Knowledge intensity is increasing across all spheres of economic activity, including agriculture and services, which can offer promising development paths for some developing countries. The final section addresses social and environmental aspects of industrial development. Labour-intensive patterns, but not necessarily others, of industrial development can be highly effective in poverty reduction though further industrial progress may be less labour-intensive. A range of policies can promote industrial energy and materials efficiency, often with positive impacts on firms’ financial performance as well as the environment. Promoting materials recycling and reuse is an effective, though indirect, means of conserving resources. Finally, the growth of multinational interest in corporate social responsibility is traced, with consideration given to both the barriers and opportunities this can pose for developing country enterprises linked to global supply chains.