The Dutch Paper Industry from 1580 to the Present: The Survival of a Long-Established Industry (Palgrave Studies in Economic History)

This open access book is the first to provide an analysis of the Dutch paper industry over a period encompassing six centuries. Responding to a trend of renewed scholarly interest in paper industries and production, the book seeks to illuminate the factors behind this relatively small national industry’s centuries-long survival. Previous historical research has shown that sets of colonial, trade, merchant and family networks, tightly interwoven through a dense web of capital, were crucial for paper production and trade in early modern Europe. This book situates the Dutch paper industry within these overlapping contexts and their shifting dynamics over time, and historicizes the challenges and obstacles it had to overcome through four phases of capitalism: the rise of Dutch capitalism (1580–1815), Dutch monarchic liberalism (1815–1914), Fordism (1914–1980), and post-Fordism (1980 until now). Each chapter covers not only technological advancements in the industry, but its development alongside further determining dimensions, such as state-industry relations (industry policies), labour-capital relations (unions) and competition and cooperation, overall painting a picture of how the industry adapted to and endured changes in national and global networks surrounding the industry. This book will be of broad interest to scholars of economic and business history, as well as industrial history, political economy, and management studies. “This publication was supported by funds from the Publication Fund for Open Access Monographs of the Federal State of Brandenburg, Germany.” Praise for The Dutch Paper Industry from 1580 to the Present Contents List of Figures List of Tables 1 Networked Industry Survival 1.1 A Long-Established Industry in International Comparison 1.2 Networks in Capitalism 1.3 (Re-)writing History References 2 Capital Networks and Early Papermaking 2.1 Growing Capital Networks 2.2 Fire Insurances and Other Cartels 2.3 Labor Revolts Notes References 3 Building Paper Industria 3.1 The Rise of the Gentlemanly Capitalists 3.2 Producing Paper of Endless Length 3.3 Modern Labor Exploitation References 4 Corporatization of Paper Manufacturing 4.1 Interim War Period 1914–1945 4.2 Industry Consolidation 4.3 Waste Paper 4.4 The Rise and Fall of Unions 4.5 When Endless Growth Still Seemed Possible References 5 Transnational Capital and Paper Production 5.1 Industrial Policy in Post-Fordism 5.2 Network Cooperation 5.3 Circular Economies 5.4 New Forms of Precarity 5.5 Rebutting State Retrenchment References 6 Networked Capitalism References Index The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher, the authors, and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, expressed or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. The publisher remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.