Exploring the role of trade associations in industry evolution : banking and motor industries in Ireland

Abstract

The principal aim of this study was to explore and describe the role of trade associations in the evolution of industrial structures. The justification for the research is based on a number of theoretical and empirical grounds. These included the general neglect of the issue in the literature, the potential implications for future research and policy development recognised by practitioners, policy makers, and academics, and the relevance of the subject to the long-standing debate on the optimal balance between self-regulation and government regulation that has become particularly pertinent in light of the latest developments in the financial sector.