British Protectionism and the International Economy: Overseas Commercial Policy in the 1930s

by Tim Rooth

Overview

After more than three-quarters of a century of free trade, Britain re-adopted protectionist policies early in the depression of the 1930s. Tim Rooth's comprehensive study examines the forces behind the abandonment of free trade and the way that Britain then used protection to bargain for trade advantages in the markets of her chief suppliers of food and raw materials. The retreat from multilateral trade policies, the growth of protection and the concomitant development of regional economic groupings has obvious parallels with current developments in the world economy.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521416085
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	03/04/1993
Pages:	374
Product dimensions:	6.18(w) x 9.21(h) x 1.02(d)

Table of Contents

1. Britain's international economic position in the 1920s; 2. The political economy of protectionism; 3. Imperial preference and the Ottawa conference; 4. The Scandinavian negotiations: formulation of policy; 5. Completion of the first phase of negotiations: Scandinavia, Germany and Argentina; 6. The World Economic Conference, Finland and Japanese competition; 7. The Baltic states and Poland; 8. British agricultural policy and imports during the 1930s; 9. British exports to the trade agreement countries; 10. Appeasing Germany and the United States; 11. Some general conclusions.

Editorial Reviews

"...the study makes a substantial contribution to our understanding of the 1930s." American Historical Review

"This thorough account of the complexities and frustration of bilateral trade negotiations in conditions of widespread unemployment is a moral tale for policymakers and a valuable contribution to the history of international economic policy." Journal of Economic History

"...a most learned book, performing a task which had to be done at some time. Specialists will be most grateful for it, and others will gain some insight into the narrow world of the 1930's." Sidney Pollard, The International History Review

From the Publisher