Economics And Economic Policy In Britain

The first part of the book is devoted to an historical survey of what has been written regarding Britain's policy problems since 1946: problems such as full employment, the sources and methods of controlling inflation and the measures to promote economic growth. At an international level, issues such as economic relations with Europe and the question of devaluation are considered. The subsequent part of the book considers how far economists' recommendations regarding policies have been derived from well-tested theories, or how far they have been based on speculation, guesswork or judgement.

This is a thorough and persuasive study, which summarizes existing literature and draws on hitherto unpublished material. It will be invaluable for anyone interested in economics and politics. Paul Mosley shows how the job has been tackled by the governments of Britain and the United States.

Years of Recovery was the first comprehensive study of the transition from war to peace in the British economy under the Labour government of 1945–51. It includes a full account of the successive crises and turning-points in those hectic years – the coal and convertibility crises of 1947, devaluation in 1949 and rearmament in 1951. These episodes, apart from their dramatic interest, light up the dilemmas of policy and the underlying economic trends and pressures in a country delicately poised between economic disaster and full recovery. Many of the debates on economic policy that are still in progress – on incomes policy, demand management, the welfare state and relations with Europe, for example – have their roots in those years. Many of the trends originating then persisted long afterwards. The book also examines the interaction between events and policy and the role in a managed economy of the policy-making machine. Now that the public records are open to 1954, it has been possible to make use of official documents to review the possibilities of action that were canvassed and the thinking and differences of opinion that underlay ministerial decisions. Combining personal involvement with thorough research, this fascinating study will be a major contribution to our understanding of post-war economic policy. Alec Cairncross was Chancellor of the University of Glasgow and a former Master of St Peter’s College, Oxford. He spent the years covered by this volume as a civil servant in London, Berlin and Paris before moving to Glasgow as Professor of Applied Economics. This classic book of some of his most brilliant research was first published in 1985.

First Published in 2005. This volume looks at the period of 1919 to 1939 in British economic policy and the Empire, including documents on imperial policy.

This new and substantially revised edition of Britain's Economic Performance provides a unique assessment of the current state of the supply-side of the economy. Written by a team of highly experienced, policy oriented applied economists, this volume will be a valuable source of reference, analysis and guidance for students and policy-makers.

"Examining the innovations of economic policy in the UK, France and Germany in the 1960s, this book originally published in 1968, assesses the degree of success of these policies and draws conclusion for the oreintation of future policy. The book contrasts the long history of national planning in France with the equally long history of anti-planning ideology in Germany and by close examination of the actual policies, brings out the relaities that lie behind the public attitudes. It discusses the problems which lead to planning interventions, followed by a chapter on the UK, France and Germany. It examines in details particular adaptations of policy: namely Quantitative programming, monetary policy, fiscal policy, public expenditures, regional policy, prices and incomes policy and the balance of payments, comparing developments in all 3 countries. It also looks at the beginning of economic planning at the level of the EEC, with particular implications for British entry."--Provided by publisher.