With industrial policy back in fashion worldwide, the question is not whether governments should intervene (they already do), but how they should proceed when they do not know in advance what will work. The answer lies in directed improvisation: creating the conditions for experimentation where it counts.
SEOUL—Around the world, governments are again using the tools of industrial policy—subsidies, tax incentives, public finance, trade measures, and strategic regulation—to shape their economies. South Korea is no exception. President Lee Jae-myung’s government has launched an ambitious strategy to promote semiconductors, AI infrastructure, robotics, and other frontier industries, with the goal of bolstering future growth and competitiveness. But the path ahead is littered with obstacles.
SEOUL—Around the world, governments are again using the tools of industrial policy—subsidies, tax incentives, public finance, trade measures, and strategic regulation—to shape their economies. South Korea is no exception. President Lee Jae-myung’s government has launched an ambitious strategy to promote semiconductors, AI infrastructure, robotics, and other frontier industries, with the goal of bolstering future growth and competitiveness. But the path ahead is littered with obstacles.