Globalisation, economic freedom and strategic decision making:a role for industrial policy?

Abstract

This article links the radical institutionalist approaches of Tool and Dugger with the strategic choice perspective to better understand the linkages between freedom, knowledge and participation in the context of a global economy dominated by transnational firms. A concern by economists with ‘negative’ freedom has been challenged by a renewed interest in the ‘positive’ dimension, drawing on Sen’s pioneering work on capabilities. The authors argue that overemphasis on either type of freedom could lead to strategic failure. Economic freedom thus constitutes consideration of what type(s) of freedom are emphasised, where freedom resides within the system, and how freedoms are realised. Public policy responses are then seen as appropriate in a globalising economy dominated by negatively free strategic decision-makers within transnational firms, tackling both the nature of the firm itself as well as the environment within which such decisions are made. This would constrain negative freedom for some so as to expand freedoms for others, enabling a more democratic form of globalisation to better serve the interests of a wider set of actors.

Publication DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01442870701640757
Divisions: College of Business and Social Sciences > Aston Business School > Economics, Finance & Entrepreneurship
College of Business and Social Sciences > School of Social Sciences & Humanities > Aston Centre for Europe
College of Business and Social Sciences > Aston Business School
Uncontrolled Keywords: economic freedom,globalisation,industrial policy,strategic choice,strategic decision making
Publication ISSN: 1470-1006
Last Modified: 27 Mar 2024 08:12
Date Deposited: 15 Jun 2017 13:00
Full Text Link: http://www.tand ... 442870701640757
Related URLs:
PURE Output Type: Article
Published Date: 2007-12-01
Authors: Bailey, David (ORCID Profile 0000-0002-1956-0556)
De Ruyter, Alex

Download

[img]

Version: Accepted Version

| Preview

Export / Share Citation


Statistics

Additional statistics for this record