Industrial Policy Coordination in International Organizations

During the post-World War II-period, industrial policy coordination has become a controversial issue within the OECD and EEC. Moreover, government and industry collaboration for the stabilization of global markets has become a crucial component of industrial relations and competitive strategy in U.S., European and Japanese enterprises during the 1980's and will remain so for the remainder of the 20th century. In light of the increasing importance of policy coordination between OECD and EEC member states, compliance processes within intergovernmental organizations will have to be understood to ensure the successful attainment of industrial policy goals.
In this study, the global steel industry was used to examine the process of industrial policy coordination within the EEC and OECD. While these two intergovernmental organizations have different structures and goals, the examination of compliance mechanisms such as collective pressure (OECD), and remunerative sanctions (EEC) provides useful insight into the steel policy coordination process. Furthermore, the experiences of the OECD Steel Committee and the European Commission during the period of the global steel market crisis is relevant for the coordination of similar policies in other industrial sectors in the future.