Mischa Balen on infant industries

By Alex Singleton | 21 October 2005

The GI's Mischa Balen has a letter in today's Guardian:

Larry Elliot claims that Britain used protectionism to help industry develop. How does Mr Elliot expect an industry to grow and mature if it faces no competition? Without external competition to improve efficiency and quality, industries remain perpetually in childhood.

Mischa Balen
Fellow, Globalization Institute

For further information on the myth that protecting infant industries has allowed developed countries to rise, check out our Guide to the infant industry debate.