ABSTRACT
Between the two world wars the British economy experienced unprecedented trauma, over which interpretations are still divided. The purpose of this chapter is to look at some of the explanations which have been provided. The first section will provide the initial perspective by outlining and explaining the main changes which occurred in the economy between the wars. The second will concentrate on the economic infrastructure, especially industry, transport and trade. The third will cover the social impact of changes within the economic infrastructure, particularly the growth, distribution and implications of unemployment in the 1920s and 1930s. The fourth will deal with the efforts made by governments to tackle the problems which arose and, in the process, look at the economic theories which they accepted and rejected. The 1930s have acquired a thoroughly negative reputation, to the extent of being known as ‘the Devil’s decade’; the final section will consider whether or not this description is deserved.
