More than two decades of economic planning in Pakistan have not succeeded at least in containing unemployment within tolerable limits. Even the People’s Works Programme introduced as a “crash” programme to get the situation under control has failed so far to achieve its major objective.

In the aftermath of the crisis, Europe is becoming more polarised in terms of employment, competitiveness and industrial specialisation. A 'German-centred core' which maintained employment and production – has emerged, contrasted by a 'Southern periphery', where major economic losses have...

One lesson of the Great Recession has been that countries with higher shares of industry in their GDP seemed to be less affected by the crisis. Consequently, the call for an industrial renaissance has become stronger. Industrial policy has now become a top priority in countries where it was not...