Economics And Empire 1830 1914

Between 1830 and 1914 Britain became the world's major trading nation, carrier of the majority of the world's goods, by far the largest investor overseas, and the centre of the world's financial system. It was an exceptional time in the history of the country; even a hundred years later, many look back to it with nostalgia. This book describes and assesses the reality of what was achieved in those eighty-five years.

"The fundamental role of Great Britain's economy in the international economic system in the century preceding the First World War is demonstrated by a number of variables, which have drawn the interest of many scholars. The focus here is on capital flows. The main difficulty encountered in this work arose from a shortage of documentation on economic data in the historical period under consideration, which has been tentatively reconstructed, on the basis of a number of estimates, subjected to a close comparative scrutiny. The book provides a valid guide to anyone wishing to improve their understanding of the so-called "pax britannica" which, at that time, rested on the canons of free trade and the gold standard. This historical period is considered by many to be the first experience of capitalist globalization. In this sense the book is also intended to provide useful reading for those who want to reflect on the possible future evolution of the world economy."--Provided by publisher.

This book, the product of a unique international scholarly collaboration sponsored jointly by the American Council of Learned Societies and the Soviet Academy of Sciences, provides a comprehensive survey on international banking from 1870 to 1914. In that period international investment reached dimensions previously unknown, and the banking systems of the world achieved a degree of internationalization without precedent. The book's authors, twenty-five scholars from fifteen countries, are the acknowledged experts in their fields. They detail the origin and development of internationally oriented banks in each major country, and explain their role in foreign investment and industrial finance. They look at all areas of the world that were involved in international investment, either as investors, recipients of investment, or both. The definitive work on international banking from 1870 to 1914, this book will interest scholars and students in financial and banking history, bankers and economists in the finanical industry, and general historians.

This volume investigates the shape and the development of scholarly and popular opinion about the British Empire over the centuries.

This classic book offers a broad sweep of economic history from prehistoric times to the present, and explores the disparity of wealth among nations. Now in its fourth edition, A Concise Economic History of the World includes expanded coverage of recent developments in the European Union, transition economies, and East Asia.