Britain’s Investment Overseas on the Eve of the First World War : The Use and Abuse of Numbers

International rivalry, war propaganda and the figures 72 Conc1usion 74 vii viii Contents PART III IMPLICA TIONS AND CONCLUSIONS 4 Common Sense and the Numbers Mickey Mouse numbers Rates of return 5 Second Thoughts on the Geographical Distribution of British Investment The existing figures British investors and foreign securities British investors and empire securities British investors and regions of recent settlement 6 Second Thoughts on the Distribution by Function of British Investment Front Matter....Pages i-xii Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Approach and Methods....Pages 3-27 Front Matter....Pages 29-29 The Stock of British Investment Overseas on the Eve of the First World War: A Revised Estimate....Pages 31-65 Politics, Propaganda and Numbers....Pages 67-76 Front Matter....Pages 77-77 Common Sense and the Numbers....Pages 79-85 Second Thoughts on the Geographical Distribution of British Investment....Pages 87-110 Second Thoughts on the Distribution by Function of British Investment....Pages 111-130 Further Implications and Conclusions....Pages 131-139 Back Matter....Pages 141-179 D.c.m. Platt. Includes Index. Bibliography: P. 155-167.