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Soft budget constraints and regional industrial policy: reinterpreting the rise and fall of DeLorean

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  • Graham Brownlow

Abstract

The rise and fall of DeLorean Motor Cars Limited has traditionally been interpreted as either the result either of John DeLorean’s psychological flaws or as confirming the supposed limitations of activist industrial policy. However when the episode is examined in greater historical detail, neither of these interpretations is compelling. The reinterpretation outlined here draws on institutional analysis as well as a range of archival sources, much of it previously unreleased. The inefficiencies within the original contractual agreement are highlighted. The lack of credibility associated with this agreement was in turn traceable to the institutional environment (with its associated risk–reward implications) under which industrial policy operated. This environment had a political element: it had been distorted by the Troubles and the resulting fears policymakers had of a cumulative causation relationship between violence and unemployment. Officials in Belfast, against Treasury opposition, advocated state-led entrepreneurship as a policy response.

Suggested Citation

  • Graham Brownlow, 2016. "Soft budget constraints and regional industrial policy: reinterpreting the rise and fall of DeLorean," Cambridge Journal of Economics, Cambridge Political Economy Society, vol. 40(6), pages 1497-1515.
  • Handle: RePEc:oup:cambje:v:40:y:2016:i:6:p:1497-1515.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/cje/bev077
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    Cited by:

    1. David Jordan & John Turner, 2021. "Northern Ireland's Productivity Challenge: Exploring the issues," Insight Papers 004, The Productivity Institute.
    2. Cormac Ó Gráda & Kevin Hjortshøj O'Rourke, 2022. "The Irish economy during the century after partition," Economic History Review, Economic History Society, vol. 75(2), pages 336-370, May.
    3. Brownlow, Graham & Colvin, Christopher L., 2022. "Economic history and the future of pedagogy in economics," QUCEH Working Paper Series 22-09, Queen's University Belfast, Queen's University Centre for Economic History.
    4. Aleksey V. Bogoviz & Yulia V. Ragulina & Anna V. Komarova & Aleksey V. Bolotin & Svetlana V. Lobova, 2017. "Modernization of the Approach to Usage of Region's Budget Resources in the Conditions of Information Economy Development," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(3B), pages 570-577.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • N84 - Economic History - - Micro-Business History - - - Europe: 1913-
    • N94 - Economic History - - Regional and Urban History - - - Europe: 1913-
    • O25 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Development Planning and Policy - - - Industrial Policy

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