international competition has always been there. If the international competition for influence was the only thing that made the rich countries ‘do the right thing’ in the third quarter of the 20th century, why did the European empires not do the same in the 19th century when they were in even more fierce competition with each other?
In some definitions, industry includes activities like mining or the generation and distribution of electricity or gas.
Quite a few developing countries have chosen not to use these tools. Some neo- liberal economists have used this as ‘evidence’ that these countries do not want policy freedom – which means that the WTO rules are not, in fact, restricting the options for these countries. However, what may look like a voluntary choice is likely to have been shaped by past conditionalities attached to foreign aid and IMF-World Bank programmes, as well as the fear of future punishment by the rich countries. But, even ignoring this problem, it is not right for rich countries to make the choice for developing countries. It is actually quite curious how free-market economists who are so much in favour of choice and autonomy do not hesitate to oppose it when it is by developing countries.
