ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an examination of the economies of the war years and the postwar period of economic recovery. It examines the United States (US) and United Kingdom (UK) economies closely, and considers the economies of France, West Germany, and Italy briefly. Wartime production was organized by the War Planning Board, which was led by Donald Nelson, a former executive with Sears, Roebuck and Company. Wartime production was organized through the use of subcontractors as organized by the government and a lead firm. The use of many smaller firms boosted morale, used existing equipment and workers, involved shorter startup time, and made disguising the nature of the final product easier. Military service and wartime production made for major changes in the size and allocation of the labor force. The economy of the United Kingdom had a different experience during the war, of course.
