The document discusses geopolitical factors that influence international competitiveness. It provides examples of how government policies adopted in response to regional economic rivalries shaped competition in the digital TV and flat panel display industries. Specifically, it discusses how rivalry between North America, Western Europe, and Japan led each to adopt incompatible digital TV standards. It also discusses how Japanese dominance of flat panel displays was later challenged by rivals from Korea and Taiwan, and more recently China. The document advocates that theories of industrial policy must account for how globalization influences economic rivalry between nations.

1. Geopolitical Factors in International Competitiveness Jeffrey A. Hart Indiana University April 1, 2011

2. Contact information Department of Political Science Woodburn Hall 210 Bloomington, IN 47405 Email: [email_address] Web: http://mypage.iu.edu/~hartj

3. My books on this topic: Rival Capitalists (1992) Globalization and Governance (1999) Managing New Industry Creation (2002) Technology, Television, and Competition (2004) Competing for Knowledge (in preparation)

4. What are Geopolitical Factors? Governmental policies adopted primarily as a response to inter-country and inter-regional rivalries They take three primary forms: Industrial policies Macroeconomic policies motivated by rivalries National security policies that have economic consequences

5. The Example of Digital TV Competition among three regions (North America, Western Europe, and Japan) resulted in the adoption of 3 incompatible DTV standards: ATSC (N. America) DVB (W. Europe) ISDB (Japan)

6. Global DTV Standards Wars

7. The Example of Flat Panel Displays Japanese dominance of the industry challenged in the 1990s by Korea and Taiwan More recent entry of China into the market

8. Tianma LCD Factory in Shanghai (formerly SVA-NEC)

9. Theoretical approaches: Neoclassical (industrial policy is bad and counterproductive) Regulatory State (regulation necessary for markets to work properly, but industrial policy is still bad) Developmental State (industrial policy is useful for catching up) Competition State (industrial policy has to take globalization into account)

10. The Developmental State vs. the Regulatory State Developmental Regulatory Type of Bureaucracy Elite, Insulated Transparent, Accountable Support for New Industries Extensive Limited Use of State-Controlled Banks Extensive Limited Stance w/regard to Private Firms Tutellary Regulatory

11. Industrial Policies Includes a wide variety of policy instruments that are intended to advance the international competitiveness of “national champion” firms, such as: Investment subsidies Public R&D expenditures Science parks and free trade zones Export incentives

12. The Impact of Globalization on National Economic Strategies Greater volatility in global financial markets requires changes in financial market regulations in all countries To remain internationally competitive, firms have adopted global production strategies Even regulatory states have to compete for inflows of foreign direct investment Developmental states cannot succeed with pure national champion strategies

13. Example of GM in China 2010 sales of 2.3 million vehicles in China World-class production facilities (joint venture with SAIC) Modified Buick as a chauffeur-driven luxury car Not competing with low-end national champions like Geely

14. Example of LG LCD Production Joint venture with Philips Only major competitors globally are Samsung and Sharp Production facilities use best materials and tools from global suppliers (e.g. Corning and Canon) Have to worry about China

15. A New Theory about Economic Rivalry in Globalized Industries Gap between global production and consumption shares in country A Gap between global production and consumption shares in country B Level of Economic Rivalry between A and B