The state and industry in the development process: How universal is the Evans vision?

The debate concerning the role of industrial policy in less developed economies has recently been invigorated by the contributions of Peter Evans, with his concept of embedded autonomy receiving particular attention in the literature. This article critically examines this concept, aiming to ascertain its global applicability. Drawing on case studies from Bangladesh, Brazil and Egypt, the strengths, and also the limitations, of the Evans vision are highlighted. In particular, it is suggested that the concept of embedded autonomy fails to accommodate adequately the institutional specificities of individual countries.