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The impact of ‘stop‐go’ demand management policy on Britain's consumer durables industries, 1952–65

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  • Peter M. Scott
  • James T. Walker

Abstract

This article examines the impacts of British government ‘stop‐go’ policy on domestic sales of consumer durables over the period 1952–65, via hire purchase restrictions and punitive Purchase Tax rates. Our analysis includes a general review of contemporary evidence regarding the impacts of these measures, a more detailed study of the television sector, and time‐series econometric analysis for both televisions and a representative high‐ticket labour‐saving consumer durable: washing machines. We find that the restrictions had devastating impacts on Britain's consumer durables industries, preventing firms from fully exploiting economies of scale, reducing output growth and international competitiveness, and eroding industrial relations. Government officials were aware of these problems, but considered them a price worth paying to facilitate moves towards sterling convertibility and the re‐establishment of the City as a leading financial and trading centre.

Suggested Citation

  • Peter M. Scott & James T. Walker, 2017. "The impact of ‘stop‐go’ demand management policy on Britain's consumer durables industries, 1952–65," Economic History Review, Economic History Society, vol. 70(4), pages 1321-1345, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:ehsrev:v:70:y:2017:i:4:p:1321-1345
    DOI: 10.1111/ehr.12470
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Arnold M. Soloway, 1954. "Economic Aspects Of The British Purchase Tax," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 9(2), pages 188-208, May.
    2. Schenk,Catherine R., 2013. "The Decline of Sterling," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9781107612990, November.
    3. Whitney Newey & Kenneth West, 2014. "A simple, positive semi-definite, heteroscedasticity and autocorrelation consistent covariance matrix," Applied Econometrics, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA), vol. 33(1), pages 125-132.
    4. Broadberry,Steve N., 2005. "The Productivity Race," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521023580, Enero-Abr.
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