Magnus Henrekson

Since the financial crisis, industrial policy has experienced a renaissance in the Western world. Government programs are launched, then large pools of subsidies, targeted R&D funds, and cheap loans are made available for corporations, opening opportunities for cronyism.

The renaissance of industrial policy has been promoted by a breed of public intellectuals with considerable financial interests as they are well paid consultants for governments.

The mentality of Build Back Better is not just confined to the US. Around the world, governments are resorting to the ancient tradition of using massive amounts of resources to build things that glorify the state, not add to the economy.