Business in Britain in the Twentieth Century: Decline and Renaissance?

This collection of fresh, incisive scholarship, by some of the leading business historians, critically examines how the British economy became one of the strongest m Europe at the turn of the 21st century. Covering the key issues for business history in this period, the book confronts the traditional literature on conclusions of relative decline, and monocausal, simplistic explanations. It provides an impressive range of studies forming a platform for a new debate on the nature of British business in the 20th century.

Themes include productivity, management-research and development, marketing, regional clusters and networks, industrial policy, the use of technology, and gender. Sector studies include newer, post-war hopefuls and successes including:

aerospace

IT

retail

banking

overseas investment

the creative industries

The book demonstrates that our understanding of the historic strengths and weaknesses of business in Britain, and the shifting balance between sectors of the economy, has until now been poorly understood, and that British business history needs a fundamental reappraisal.

This collection of fresh, incisive scholarship, by some of the leading business historians, critically examines the nature of economic recovery in Britain in recent years. Covering the key issues for business history in this period, the book confronts the traditional literature on conclusions of relative decline, and monocausal, simplistic explanations. It provides an impressive range of studies forming a platform for a new debate on the nature of British business in the 20th century.

Themes include productivity, management, research and development, marketing, regional clusters and networks, industrial policy, the use of technology, and gender. Sector studies include newer, post-war hopefuls and successes including:

• aerospace,

• IT,

• retail,

• banking,

• overseas investment,

• the creative industries.

The book demonstrates that our understanding of the historic strengths and weaknesses of business in Britain, and the shifting balance between sectors of the economy, has until now been poorly understood, and that British business history needs a fundamental reappraisal.

Richard Coopey teaches history across a range of economic, social, technological and political areas. His current research interests include the history of the popular music industry, and the economic history of water resources.
Peter Lyth has taught economic and transport history in Britain, Israel and the United States. His research interests are chiefly in transport and airline history, as well as aircraft and aero engine manufacturing.