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Should States Protect Industries?

When is it okay to nationalise a failing industry, and is global manufacturing in terminal decline anyway? Plus Lucy Kellaway of the FT on firms that pledge to change the world.

We look at the latest debate over state-supported industries. In Britain, the biggest steel-maker says it's selling up, risking tens of thousands of jobs. The government says it may step in to protect workers. But is it ever a good idea to nationalise a failing industry? Particularly if, as some claim, manufacturing worldwide is in terminal decline? We debate the issues with two economists, Charles Kenny, senior fellow at the Centre for Global Development, and Diego Zuluaga, International Research Fellow at the Institute of Economic Affairs. Plus we look at the latest research around the state of manufacturing with Susan Lund of the McKinsey Global Institute. And finally, Lucy Kellaway joins us to reflect on the trend (or is it a curse?) of relatively humble companies pledging to change the world for the better.

(Picture: Steelworkers calling for a government rescue at Tata Steel's steel plant in Port Talbot, UK; Credit: Ben Birchall/AFP/Getty Images)

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18 minutes

Last on

Mon 11 Apr 2016 15:06GMT

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  • Mon 11 Apr 2016 07:32GMT
  • Mon 11 Apr 2016 15:06GMT

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