The Economic Development of the United Kingdom Since 1870

The theme of economic decline has dominated research into the modern economic history of the United Kingdom. Scholars have charted its fall from pre-eminence since the late nineteenth century and the loss of its position as the world’s leading industrial nation. This authoritative two volume set provides a representative selection of the seminal contributions which have stimulated debate and research on this topic, and demonstrates the variety of views and the richness and quality of research by British and American scholars on the development of the modern British economy.

The first volume provides a broad overview of Britain’s growth and examines the general problems of growth and decline from late Victorian and Edwardian times to the present. The final section and the opening sections of Volume II are devoted to the principal factors which have been advanced as explanations for Britain’s apparent inability to sustain its competitive position. Volume I concludes with a selection of articles on the quality of perfomance of British entrepreneurs and managers and their response to technical change.

Volume II covers major themes including the attitudes of labour and trades unions, the contribution of education, science and technology to economic growth, the influence of capital markets and imperialism, and the effects of international trade and demand on the British economy. In conclusion, some specific studies of key industries have been chosen to illustrate many of these general themes.