Originally published in 1967, this book provides a detailed survey of economic events from the early 1950s to the late 1960s. It provides an excellent source of reference on economic policy issues and will also be invaluable as a textbook of mid-20th century economic history. Part 1 discusses demand management, the balance of payments and regional development before 1961. The authors stress the social and administrative aspects of Britains mal du siècle. A turning point came in 1961 when the Conservatives set up the National Economic Development Council. This experiment in indicative planning and the changes introduced by Labour after 1964 are described in Part 2. Despite short-term demand mismanagement by successive governments, indicative planning has made it possible to introduce a number of constructive new measures, in particular prices and incomes policy, regional development and the modernization of economic structures to each of which the book devotes a chapter.
Part 1: Key Problems I: A Mal du Siècle ?
1. The Growth of the Economy
2. British Elites
3. The Affluent Society II: Demand Management, Or the
Policy of Stop-Go
1. What is Stop-Go?
2. The Instruments of Demand
Management Policy
3. Lessons of the 1950s III: The Balance of Payments and
Its Problems
1. Evolution of the Balance of Payments Since the War
2.
Short-Term Fluctuations in the Balance of Payments
3. The Pound Sterling IV:
Regional Imbalance
1. The Facts
2. The Chosen Policies
3. The Balance Sheet
Part 2: New Trends V: The First Planning Experiment: The Conservatives and
the National Economic Development Council
1. Preliminary Questions
2. The
Solution Adopted in 1961
3. Partial Failure of the 1961-6 Programme VI.
Labour and Planning
1. Machinery of the Plan
2. Prospects of Growth, 1965-70
3. The Economic Situation Since October 1964 VII: In Seach of an Incomes
Policy
1. The Facts
2. The Period 1961-4
3. The Labour Government VIII:
Regional Restructuring
1. New General Measures of the Conservatives
2.
Labours Regional Policy
3. The New Regions Some Case Studies IX:
Modernization
1. The Elites
2. An Active Labour Market Policy
3. Science and
Technology.
John Hackett worked as an economist with the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development in Paris.
Anne-Marie Hackett was Conseiller Référendaire at the French Cour des Comptes.
