Industry Associations

Abstract

Abstract This chapter explores how different disciplines have approached the study of industry associations and their impact on the development of industries. It highlights how these associations have been associated with cartels, lobbying, corporatism, regulation, and governance. While much of this literature has been critical of the role of industry associations, more recent work presents a more positive picture, highlighting their importance in creating an industry’s cultural identity. Recent studies have also emphasized the importance of the intermediary role played by associations in spreading knowledge and information. All these activities point to the key role industry associations can play in shaping and developing the industries they represent. Among the important issues are their response to change and the tensions between unification into a single body and possible division into smaller associations representing the particular needs of a part of an industry.