FREE ESSAY ON NATIONAL VARIATIONS IN POLICY STANCE

NATIONAL VARIATIONS IN POLICY STANCE

National variations in Policy Stance
The major industrialized nations of the world have all had their similarities and
differences throughout time. The U.S., currently begin the strongest economy in the world
is among some of the few countries that has been trying to begin free trade throughout
the world economies. The E.U. is also starting to begin the processes of free trade
throughout their Union. 
The U.S and the U.K. have more in common than the European and the Asian economies. One
of the main trends that began in the 1980's throughout the major economies of the world
was deregulation. Deregulation is the process of the government being more lenient with
the economic activities to increase and create a more free state of competition. In the
third world countries deregulation is thought of as also privatization. Governments'
privatization usually consists of the companies in the energy (electricity),
telecommunication, and gas sectors like in the case of Brazil currently. 
France has a very state oriented industrialized policy in which it helps support the
major businesses throughout the economy. The government also holds major control of the
financial institutions which allows the government to direct certain funds toward major
sectors of the economy. Directing funds to industries increases a country's international
competitiveness. 
Germany has the economic power divided between the government and the provinces (like
states.) German has pride itself on internal competition along with an internal agreement
between labour unions, major banks, and interest groups. Recently German has helped the
major manufactures that have been in financial trouble. Currently there exists problems
due the reunification of the Eastern block with the western block. There is high trade
deficit, high unemployment, and high inflation due to the interest payments due from the
trade deficit.
The U.K. industrialized policy has been changed so many times that some people refer to
their policy as inconsistent. Through the 60's the government had implemented changes to
encourage the major companies in certain sector to form mergers so that competition would
be enhanced globally. In the 70's the government began to support small business to
increase the competition internally. One feature that the U.K. has in common with the
rest of European countries is the regional policy. The regional policy encourages growth
an investment in areas of the country where the economy is not as influential as in the
other major business sector of the respective country.
The U.S. has had a policy that would encourage internal competition. The regulatory
system is there to promote investment opportunities in the private sector of the economy.
When the time comes the government will intervene to make sure that a major corporation
will not fail due to economic troubles or recession. There is also a high amount of funds
allocated to the defense sector of the U.S., which provides for a lot of jobs and
influence of the U.S. industry.