The Conservatives and Industrial Efficiency, 1951-1964: Thirteen Wasted Years?

by Nick Tiratsoo, Jim Tomlinson

Overview

The Conservatives and Industrial Efficiency, 1951-1964 responds to the need for a full assessment of the Conservatives performance in this crucial period. Drawing upon a wide range of archival sources, Nick Tiratsoo and Jim Tomlinson explore the different aspects of the efficiency question. Beginning with the major issue of attempts in the 1950s to americanize British industry, the authors also discuss the Conservatives policy on ompetition, education and training, investment and research and development. This new survey reveals that the Conservatives were informed about each of these issues, yet shrank from effective reform. They were, rather, reduced to inertia by ideological dilemmas, internal party antagonisms and conflicting strategic objectives. Tiratsoo and Tomlinson conclude that 1951 - 1964 were indeed 'thirteen wasted years'. This book will be of interest to all those concerned with the post-1945 economic and political history of Britain.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781134725021
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	08/12/2005
Series:	Routledge Explorations in Economic History , #10
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	224
File size:	418 KB

About the Author

Nick Tiratsoo is Senior Research Fellow at the University of Luton, UK, and Visiting Research Fellow at the Business History Unit of the London School of Economics and Political Science. Jim Tomlinson is Professor of Economic History and Head of the Department of Government at Brunel University, UK. Their previous co-authored work, Industrial Efficiency and State Intervention: Labour 1939–51, was published by Routledge in 1993.

Table of Contents

Preface 1 The Conservatives and industrial efficiency, 1900–51 2 Conservative economic policy, 1951–64: short-term management and long-term growth 3 The American productivity gospel in Britain: agencies and impact 4 The American productivity gospel in Britain: implementing change in business practice and shopfloor technique 5 The American productivity gospel in Britain: the quest for management professionalisation 6 The American productivity gospel in Britain: explaining reactions and responses 7 The Conservatives and competition 8 Education and training 9 Investment and technical change 10 Overview and conclusions