First published in 1980, this book considers the British motor industry over the period between 1945 and 1979, analysing the ways in which the industry suffered a considerable decline in the post-war era, when compared to motor industries of other countries or to most other British industries. Rather than blaming labour and management, as has frequently been the case, the author argues that the decline can be traced back to poor government policy. Tracing how, when and where government policies affected the industry, the book examines policies clearly directed at the motor industry, such as transport legislation and motor taxation. In addition the work considers the consequences of many policies which were targeted only indirectly at the motor industry as the author argues that whilst government policy may have succeeded in its aim, e.g. improving employment for the balance of payments, the motor industry may have suffered as a consequence. Written in non-technical language, the reissue will be of interest to those concerned with post-war UK economic development, the UK motor industry in particular and the history of government policy in general.

A concise 1995 review of the strengths and weaknesses of the British motor industry during the one hundred years since its foundation.

How the political conditions lay the economic foundation of a country? How the discovery of oil can make a country have the richest royals, or the biggest hedge funds? How can tourism advance an economy at the base level and how it can be totally devastating at times? How laws of some country can make it the hotbed for the world's richest? How the deadliest monarch can give the status of high-end to its fashion-house? How did Hong Kong become the most capitalistic from a communist nation? How can China be communist and the world's biggest economy at the same time? How can a tiny country in the Middle-East surrounded by its violent enemies be the tech hub of Asia? How can India be a global superpower? How UAE is shifting from oil-based country to tourism and tech-based country? This book answers a lot more than just these questions. This book does not just contain huge mathematical equations or complex graphs, but analysis of an economy through history, geopolitics, law, and the political order of that country. It contains the concept of economics from the basics through analysis of an economy in its simplest and most intuitive form.

Originally published in 1982, this book examines the problem and looks at the causes of the repeated crises which the country has undergone since the war. The basic cause is stated to be the failure to invest in the modernisation of the British capital equipment and the consequent loss of competitive power. This failure, in turn, is seen to be the result of Government policies which, for the sake of a variety of short-term aims, sacrificed the future by deliberately inhibiting investment.

Cover page -- Halftitle page -- Title page -- Copyright page -- Title Page -- Copyright page -- Contents -- Figures -- Tables -- Contributors -- Preface -- 1 Motor vehicle manufacturing: the representative industry -- 2 The world automotive industry intransition -- 3 New horizons? The Third World motor vehicle industry in an international framework -- 4 The transformation of the Japanese motor vehicle industry and its role in the world: industrial restructuring and technical evolution -- 5 The impact of Japanese investment in the United States -- 6 Nothing new about Nissan? -- 7 Motor components: locational issues in an international industry -- 8 Vertical integration or disintegration? The case of the UK car parts industry -- 9 Restructuring the Swedish manufacturing industry - the case of the motor vehicle industry -- 10 Subcontracting in the motor industry: a case study in Coventry -- 11 Industrial restructuring and the labour force: the case of Austin Rover in Longbridge, Birmingham -- 12 Policy implications of trends and changes in the vehicle and components industries: the case of the West Midlands -- Bibliography -- Index

A fascinating and well-researched look at the British motor industry which will appeal to both academic readers and practitioners alike. Why are there now no major car manufacturers in Britain? Whisler considers this and the surrounding issues, making valuable comparisons with overseasmanufacturers operating both in the UK and abroad, which provide us with additional interest and insight. Based upon careful use of company archives, this book covers in particular the issues of product development, quality, design, and range, ensuring that The British Motor Industry is destined tomake a distinctive contribution to our understanding of the performance of UK manufacturers.

Renowned industrial expert Geoffrey Owen analyses the complex reasons behind the delayed modernisation of British industry.