This comparative analysis of the coordination and control of industries in North America, Japan, and Western Europe challenges neo-classical economists' assumptions about the efficaciousness of market mechanisms as a means of enhancing economic performance. The authors also explore variation in state policies in the governance of internationally competitive industries (automobiles, chemicals, consumer electronics, and steel, for example) and demonstrate how variation in state policies influences the economic performance of industrial sectors. The authors argue that tightly controlled sectors outperform their less-regulated counterparts in the world economy.