Industrieeconomie

Industrieeconomie is the branch of economics that studies how industries are organized, how firms compete, and how markets allocate resources in manufacturing and related sectors. It combines theory and empirical analysis to explain prices, production, productivity, and welfare outcomes. Central topics include market structure (ranging from perfect competition to monopoly and oligopoly), firm strategy and behavior, product differentiation, pricing, and entry and exit dynamics. Costs, economies of scale and scope, and decisions about vertical integration and supply chains affect industry performance and competition.

The field also examines innovation, research and development, and technological change as drivers of productivity and industry dynamics. Industrial economics analyzes how institutions—antitrust policy, regulation, trade rules, subsidies, and standards—shape competitive behavior and economic efficiency. Policy questions include when markets fail, whether regulation improves welfare, and how to design policy that supports innovation without unduly hindering competition.

Methods used in industrieeconomie include theoretical models of imperfect competition, game theory, and econometric analysis of industry data. Applications cover a wide range of sectors such as manufacturing, energy, transportation, telecommunications, and services, as well as historical and comparative analyses of industrial development.

The field is closely related to industrial organization and provides foundations for business strategy, public policy, and sectoral economic analysis. It informs policymakers, managers, and researchers seeking to understand how industry structure and policy interact to shape performance and welfare.