The new industrial state?

The future of American economic policy

On February 27, 2024, a gathering took place in Washington, D.C., bringing together over 50 senior leaders from business, government, and the nonprofit sector, alongside nine Harvard Business School faculty members. This roundtable generated a candid exchange of perspectives on the early outcomes of the United States' industrial policies, especially the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), the CHIPS and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

Representatives from key government departments—Treasury, Commerce, Energy, and the White House—joined forces with leaders from finance, manufacturing, and technology sectors to discuss the complexities and national goals these policies seek to address. Together, they explored strategies for reshoring supply chains, revitalizing critical infrastructure, bolstering manufacturing capabilities, creating jobs, and advancing the clean energy transition.

Learning resources

At BiGS, we want to share resources and learning materials that are accessible regardless of your location. In this section, you will find resources summarizing the key insights from the roundtable, videos, and articles sharing the views of senior business and government leaders, and the HBS case studies that were taught at the event.

Think BiGS: Industrial policy

Explore insightful interviews with senior leaders across business, government, and nonprofit sectors as part of our Think BiGS series. These conversations delve into the complexities of U.S. industrial policy, offering diverse perspectives on the challenges and opportunities including insights on advancing national economic objectives and accelerating the clean energy transition.

Case studies

Participants at the BiGS 2024 Global Leadership Roundtable in Washington, D.C., used these case studies to debate the impact of industrial policy on American business and on the overall relationship between the country's public and private sectors.