Confronting Decline: The Political Economy of Deindustrialization in Twentieth-Century New England (Working in the Americas)

“Koistinen puts the ‘political’ back in political economy in this fascinating account of New England’s twentieth-century industrial erosion. First-rate research and sound judgments make this study essential reading.”—Philip Scranton, Rutgers University–Camden “Well-organized and clearly written, __Confronting Decline__ looks at one community to understand a process that has become truly national.”—David Stebenne, Ohio State University “Koistinen’s important book makes clear that many industrial cities and regions began to decline as early as the 1920s.”—Alan Brinkley, Columbia University “Sheds new light on a complex system of enterprise that sometimes blurs, and occasionally overrides, the distinctions of private and public, as well as those of locality, state, region, and nation. In so doing, it extends and deepens the insights of previous scholars of the American political economy.”—Robert M. Collins, University of Missouri The rise of the United States to a position of global leadership and power rested initially on the outcome of the Industrial Revolution. Yet as early as the 1920s, important American industries were in decline in the places where they had originally flourished. The decline of traditional manufacturing—deindustrialization—has been one of the most significant aspects of the restructuring of the American economy. In this volume, David Koistinen examines the demise of the textile industry in New England from the 1920s through the 1980s to better understand the impact of industrial decline. Focusing on policy responses to deindustrialization at the state, regional, and federal levels, he offers an in-depth look at the process of industrial decline over time and shows how this pattern repeats itself throughout the country and the world. Koistinen puts the political back in political economy in this fascinating account of New Englands twentieth-century industrial erosion. First-rate research and sound judgments make this study essential reading.Philip Scranton, Rutgers UniversityCamden Well-organized and clearly written, Confronting Decline looks at one community to understand a process that has become truly national.David Stebenne, Ohio State University Koistinens important book makes clear that many industrial cities and regions began to decline as early as the 1920s.Alan Brinkley, Columbia University Sheds new light on a complex system of enterprise that sometimes blurs, and occasionally overrides, the distinctions of private and public, as well as those of locality, state, region, and nation. In so doing, it extends and deepens the insights of previous scholars of the American political economy.Robert M. Collins, University of Missouri The rise of the United States to a position of global leadership and power rested initially on the outcome of the Industrial Revolution. Yet as early as the 1920s, important American industries were in decline in the places where they had originally flourished. The decline of traditional manufacturingdeindustrializationhas been one of the most significant aspects of the restructuring of the American economy. In this volume, David Koistinen examines the demise of the textile industry in New England from the 1920s through the 1980s to better understand the impact of industrial decline. Focusing on policy responses to deindustrialization at the state, regional, and federal levels, he offers an in-depth look at the process of industrial decline over time and shows how this pattern repeats itself throughout the country and the world. A volume in the series Working in the Americas, edited by Richard Greenwald and Timothy J. Minchin The book examines the impact of deindustrialization on the American political economy through a case study of the New England region. New England experienced dramatic downsizing in textiles and other traditional industries beginning in the 1920s and lasting for much of the twentieth century. The book concentrates on events in Massachusetts, by far the most populous New England state and the one hit hardest by industrial decline. The volume spotlights developments in the 1920s, 30s, and early 40s, when the problem of deindustrialization was new. Cold War-era episodes of industrial downsizing are examined as well. Attention focuses on cotton textiles, New England’s largest troubled sector in the post-World War I period and the one declining most rapidly at that time. The demise of traditional manufacturing in New England resulted in a number of initiatives to address the problem, backed by a variety of interest groups. The effects of industrial decline on the political economy played out principally through these efforts. Three distinct initiatives to counter deindustrialization were advanced in New England. First was what can be called “retrenchment”—a drive to reduce business regulations and taxes so as to enhance the competitiveness of area industries. Second was “federal assistance”—an effort to secure federal government aid for declining industries and locales affected by downsizing. Third was “economic development”—an attempt to develop new regional industries to replace those in decline. The study describes each effort in detail, looks at the groups who supported it, and assesses the outcome In recent decades, the decline of traditional manufacturing--deindustrialization--has been one of the most significant aspects of the restructuring of the American economy. David Koistinen examines the demise of the New England textile industry from the 1920s through the 1980s to better understand the process of industrial decline.He systematically explores three policy responses to deindustrialization, each backed by a distinct set of interest groups: cutbacks in government regulations and business taxes, demanded by existing manufacturers; federal intervention to support New England's failing textile makers, urged by organized labor; and efforts to develop new industries and employment in the region, sought by service-sector companies and others.Confronting Decline offers an in-depth look at the process of deindustrialization over time and shows how this pattern repeats itself throughout the country and the world. Focuses On Massachusetts Textile Industries To Understand The Process Of Deindustrialization And Three Common Responses To It: Cutbacks In Regulation, Federal Intervention, And Economic Development. Deindustrialization In New England -- Retrenchment -- Federal Assistance -- Economic Development -- Small Business Financing In Mid-twentieth-century New England -- Small Business Finance And Electronics Spinoff Companies Along Route 128 -- Responses To Deindustrialization In New England During The Cold War Years -- Conclusions. David Koistinen ; Foreword By Timothy J. Minchin And Richard Greenwald. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.