Result: Industrial complex: Evolution of a research programme

The economic downturn resulting from a sharp decrease in demand under the pan demic implies the transformation of the existing ideas about the principles of running enter prises and their associations – industrial complexes. Currently, there is no commonly-used definition of this concept available in laws and regulations or science. The use of such vague terminology allows multiple interpretations which bias the findings and decrease their applica bility for the industrial policies aimed at achieving economic growth in the most effective way. The paper focuses on establishing the up-to-date research programme for the term “industrial complex” in economics. The methodological basis rests on the set of concepts including neo classical and neoinstitutional theories, the systems approach, and postulates of management theories. The research employs fundamental methods of formalisation and systematisation, and relies on bibliometric and content analyses. Based on the developed research programme, the authors identify the key features of the industrial complex including systemic, multi-sectoral institutional nature of such association represented as a network focusing on meeting a unified set of needs and requiring management of a multiplicity of subjects. The study shows that since the location of industrial complexes is no longer limited it cannot be regarded as a meso-level subsystem. The authors propose their interpretation of the industrial complex as a multi-sec toral institutional association of industrial enterprises and infrastructure facilities represented as a network focusing on meeting a unified set of needs. The obtained results can be applied to monitor the performance and efficiency of industrial complexes, as well as to formulate specific items of a policy for economic growth.