First published in 1987. This volume explores the inter-war unemployment problem and the development of economic and social policy in relation to that problem. Contemporary policies and levels of unemployment can only be compared with the inter-war period and in recent years economists and other commentators have increasingly turned their attention to the 1930s.
This book is written by a group of expert historians and policy analysts who have been in the forefront of recent research. In particular, new insights into economic policy which have come from the release of cabinet and departmental papers at The Public Record Office are revealed. Recent economic theory is also taken into account and the findings question established views on many grounds. New economic lessons from the 1930s are suggested and some astonishing similarities to the 1980s and demonstrated.
This work will be essential reading for students of modern British history and economic and social history as well as economic policy and government and politics.
Introduction Sean Glynn and Alan Booth; Part One: The Nature of the Problem; 1. The Scale and Nature of the Problem Sean Glynn 2. The Social Consequences of Interwar Unemployment Noel Whiteside 3. Systems of Interwar Unemployment Relief Alan Deacon 4. Unemployment and Interwar Politics Alan Booth 5. Unemployment and Real Wages Forrest Capie 6. The Real Wage Debate and British Interwar Unemployment W. R. Garside 7. The Outlines of a Keynesian Solution T. J. Hatton; Part Two: The Policy Debate; 8. Keynes G. C. Peden 9. Treasury Policy on Unemployment Roger Middleton 10. Industrial Policy M. W. Kirby 11. Labour Policy Rodney Lowe 12. Real Policy Options Sean Glynn 13. The War and the White Paper Alan Booth; Notes on Contributors; Bibliography; Index
Biography
Sean Glynn, Alan Booth
