ABSTRACT

This volume collects together Sir Alec Cairncross' most important contributions to the economic history of the post-1939 period. They address such major issues as the role of economists in the 2nd World War, the significance of the Marshall plan and Britain's relative economic decline. Together they demonstrate a keen insight into the changing role of the economist in government and the gradual transformation of the economic landscape.

chapter 1|14 pages

IN PRAISE OF ECONOMIC HISTORY*

part |2 pages

Part I WARTIME AND AFTER

chapter 3|20 pages

ECONOMISTS IN WARTIME*

chapter 4|14 pages

POSTWAR PLANNING IN EUROPE, 1945–7*

chapter 5|14 pages

THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY OF WESTERN GERMANY*

chapter 6|11 pages

INDUSTRIAL RECOVERY FROM WAR: A COMPARISON OF BRITISH AND GERMAN EXPERIENCE

A comparison of British and German experience*

chapter 8|5 pages

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE MARSHALL PLAN*

chapter 9|8 pages

THE MARSHALL PLAN—A RETROSPECTIVE

part |2 pages

Part II FROM DEVALUATION TO THATCHER

chapter 11|9 pages

THE 1967 DEVALUATION OF STERLING*

chapter 12|8 pages

THE 1970s IN PERSPECTIVE*

chapter 13|15 pages

THE IMF CRISIS OF 1976*

chapter 14|10 pages

ECONOMIC POLICY AFTER 1974*

A Review Article

part |2 pages

Part III A LONGER VIEW

chapter 15|21 pages

THE EARLY HISTORY OF J & P COATS*

Written with the invaluable assistance of Mr J.B.K.Hunter

chapter 17|16 pages

BRITAIN’S INDUSTRIAL DECLINE*

chapter 18|11 pages

ECONOMISTS AND ENGINEERS*

chapter 20|21 pages

REFLECTIONS ON ECONOMIC IDEAS AND GOVERNMENT POLICY: 1939 AND AFTER

1939 and after*