Managing Decline? 1870-1990

Nick Crafts looks at political factors in the chequered history of British economic performance since the high noon of mid-Victorian Britain.

Mid-Victorian Britain is commonly described as having passed through the 'First Industrial Revolution' to have become the 'workshop of the world'. Late twentieth-century Britain, of course, has no such pretensions. In the intervening years Britain has experienced a long period of relative economic decline marked by slower economic growth than in other countries and culminating in recent decades in a marked de-industrialisation of the economy.

To continue reading this article you will need to purchase access to the online archive.

Buy Online Access  Buy Print & Archive Subscription

If you have already purchased access, or are a print & archive subscriber, please ensure you are logged in.

Please email digital@historytoday.com if you have any problems.