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Monetary Regimes of the Twentieth Century

Monetary Regimes of the Twentieth Century

Monetary Regimes of the Twentieth Century

Andrew Britton, National Institute of Economic and Social Research, London
June 2001
Available
Hardback
9780521801690
$161.00
USD
Hardback

    Abstract economic theory may be timeless and potentially universal in its application, but macroeconomics has to be seen in its historical context. The nature of the policy regime, the behaviour of the economy and the beliefs of professional economists all interact, and influence each other. This short historical account of monetary regimes since 1900 shows how the role of policy has changed, and how this has related to experience of inflation and the real economy, as well as to changes in political philosophies. The narrative concentrates on developments in America, Europe and Japan from the era of the classical gold standard, via the era of policy intervention and reduced faith in the market to the present 'neo-liberal' regimes. The 'grand narrative' of the century is a journey 'to Utopia and back'. It is argued that no school of macroeconomics is right for all time; different theoretical models may be appropriate, for different periods and regimes.

    • Major implications for government economists and civil servants
    • Strong linkages to public and social policy questions
    • Part of long running and prestigous series with one of world's best known economics departments

    Reviews & endorsements

    'No one interested in twentieth-century economic performance in the major economies should miss this book.' History

    'Andrew Britton has provided us with a concise account of changing economic policy regimes in the twentieth century.' English Historical Review

    See more reviews

    Product details

    June 2001
    Hardback
    9780521801690
    260 pages
    236 × 159 × 24 mm
    0.54kg
    25 tables
    Available

    Table of Contents

    • Introduction: economics and history
    • 1. Before the First World War (1900–1914)
    • 2. World War I and after
    • 3. Crisis and depression (1925–1939)
    • 4. World War II and after (1939–1950)
    • 5. The Golden age (1950–1965)
    • 6. Policy failure (1965–1980)
    • 7. Liberalisation (1980–1990)
    • 8. Back to the beginning? (1990–1999).
      Author
    • Andrew Britton , National Institute of Economic and Social Research, London

      Andrew Britton has been a Visiting Professor at the University of Bath since 1998. He was Director of the National Institute of Economic and Social Research between 1982 and 1995, when he left to join the Churches' Enquiry into Unemployment and the Future of Work.