Democratic Socialism and Economic Policy: The Attlee Years, 1945–1951 (Cambridge Studies in Modern Economic History, Series Number 3)

This major new addition to Cambridge Studies in Modern Economic History analyzes the economic policies of the Attlee Government, incorporating already published literature and much new research. It integrates the politics of economic policy-making with the economic arguments. It stresses the importance of the government's drive for efficiency, and strongly questions the claim that in building a "welfare state" the government neglected production. It is the first comprehensive account of the Attlee government's economic policies. This Major Addition To The Cambridge Studies In Modern Economic History Series Analyses The Economic Policies Of The Attlee Government, Both International And Domestic, In The Light Of Labour's Issues And Doctrines Regarding The Economy. 1. Introduction: Labour And The Economy 1900-1945 -- 2. Labour And The International Economy I: Overall Strategy -- 3. Labour And The International Economy Ii: The Balance Of Payments -- 4. Industrial Modernisation -- 5. Nationalisation -- 6. Controls And Planning -- 7. Financial System -- 8. Employment Policy And The Labour Market -- 9. Labour And The Woman Worker -- 10. Towards A Keynesian Policy? -- 11. Economics Of The Welfare State -- 12. Equality Versus Efficiency -- 13. Conclusions: Political Obstacles To Economic Reform. Jim Tomlinson. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 306-325) And Index. This major study analyses the economic policies of the Attlee government, both international and domestic, in the light of Labour's issues and doctrines about the economy. Jim Tomlinson highlights the concern of the government with issues of industrial efficiency, and how this concern pervaded all areas of economic policy. He focuses on the economic aspects of the creation of the welfare state, and how efficiency concerns led to a great deal of austerity in the design of welfare provision. In addition, Tomlinson offers detailed discussion of the labour market in this period, both the attempts to 'plan' that market and the tensions in the policies created by attempts to attract more women into paid work. Students, professional historians and even politicians will greatly benefit from this broad-based reappraisal of a crucial era Democratic Socialism and Economic Policy: The Attlee Years 1945–1951 analyses the economic policies of the Attlee government. It stresses the importance of the government's drive for efficiency. Tomlinson questions the claim that in building a 'welfare state' the government neglected production. The Labour government of 1945-51 had to confront unprecedented economic problems, especially problems of the balance of payments, whilst at the same time attempting major reforms of the economy.