How was poverty measured and defined, and how has this influenced our judgement of the change in poverty in Britain during the first sixty years of the twentieth century? During this period, a large number of poverty surveys were carried out, the methods of which altered after World War II. Commencing with Rowntree's social survey of York in 1899 and ending with Abel-Smith and Townsend's Poor and the Poorest in 1965, Ian Gazeley shows how the means of evaluation and the causes of poverty changed. Poverty in Britain, 1900-1965: - Offers a comprehensive empirical assessment of all published poverty and nutritional enquiries in this era - Reports the results of recent re-examinations of many of the more famous social surveys that took place - Considers the results of these surveys within the context of changing real incomes, the occupational structure and social provision - Evaluates the extent to which the reduction in poverty was due to the actions of the State or to increases in real income (including more continuous income from fuller employment) Detailed yet easy to follow, Ian Gazeley's book is an indispensable guide to the changing face of poverty in Britain during the first six decades of the last century.

This fascinating account of young women's lives challenges existing assumptions about working class life and womanhood in England between the end of the First World War and the beginning of the 1950s. Selina Todd uses extensive oral histories and autobiographical material.

The 20th century was a period of unrivalled change in the British labour market. Covering topics from lifetime work patterns and education to unemployment and the welfare state, this volume charts the transformation of work and pay across the 20th century. It provides the labour focused history of Britain.

Containing over 25,000 entries, this unique volume will be absolutely indispensable for all those with an interest in Britain in the twentieth century. Accessibly arranged by theme, with helpful introductions to each chapter, a huge range of topics is covered. There is a comprehensiveindex.

People throughout the world are now commemorating the centenary of the start of the First World War. For historians of international business and finance, it is an opportunity to reflect on the impact of the war on global business activity. The world economy was highly integrated in the early twentieth century thanks to nearly a century of globalisation. In 1913, the economies of the countries that were about to go war seemed inextricably linked. The Impact of the First World War on International Business explores what happened to international business organisations when this integrated global economy was shattered by the outbreak of a major war. Studying how companies responded to the economic catastrophe of the First World War offers important lessons to policymakers and businesspeople in the present, concerning for instance the impact of great power politics on international business or the thesis that globalization reduces the likelihood of inter-state warfare. This is the first book to focus on the impact of the First World War on international business. It explores the experiences of firms in Britain, France, Germany, Japan, China, and the United States as well as those in neutral countries such as the Netherlands, Sweden, and Argentina, covering a wide range of industries including financial services, mining, manufacturing, foodstuffs, and shipping. Studying how firms responded to sudden and dramatic change in the geopolitical environment in 1914 offers lessons to the managers of today’s MNEs, since the world economy on the eve of the First World War has many striking parallels with the present. Aimed at researchers, academics and advanced students in the fields of Business History, International Management and Accounting History; this book goes beyond the extant literature on this topic namely due to the broad range of industries and countries covered. The Impact of the First World War on International Business covers a broad range of geographical areas and topics examining how private firms responded to government policy and have based their contributions mainly on primary sources created by business people.

For the past decade at least 25% of the UK population and 30% of children have been in poverty by internationally accepted measures, and the numbers keep rising. In The Rise and Fall of the British Welfare State, Pat Thane analyses the history of state welfare in Britain from 1900, and sheds light on its aims, achievements, and failings. Beginning with the poverty surveys of Booth and Rowntree, and the implementation of early welfare measures such as free school meals, Thane offers a vivid snapshot of social welfare in Britain c1900, and the growing demands for improved welfare provisions. Taking readers through the significant social reforms of the First and Second World Wars, the making of the modern welfare state 1945-51, and its subsequent shifts due to rapidly evolving social policies. Thane ends with austerity and the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing the scholarship up to the present day, and drawing striking parallels with Britain c1900. By placing a major current issue within its historical context, Thane explores the shifting administration of the welfare state, and adjusts misconceptions about the implementation of social policy, particularly during the 1970s and 1980s. Thane offers readers a comprehensive study of British social measures during the 20th and 21st centuries, highlighting how and why poverty rates are rising once more, and examining how the future of social policy could enact greater change.

This established introductory textbook provides students with a full overview of British social policy and social ideas since the late 18th century. It is the essential starting point for anyone learning about how and why Britain created the first welfare state, and its development into the 21st century. Offering a comprehensive historical survey, this book analyses the emergence of the first welfare state, its later adaptations in the light of changing socio-political climates, and takes the story up to the present day, with discussion of the Coalition and Theresa May's early Prime Ministership, and an overview conclusion that identifies key issues in modern British social history. Building on the strong foundations of the prior editions, The Evolution of the Welfare State Sixth Edition has been updated to include: - New intersectional viewpoints on welfare, such as the role of gender - Expanded coverage of the post-1948 period - Updated methodological perspectives in the light of the latest research Ideal for undergraduate and postgraduate students, this is an essential resource for all interested in the British welfare state and social history.