The experience of the National Government during the economic crisis
Implelemented public spending cuts
Cut public sectors pay by 10%
Means test for unemployment benefit
The Special Areas Act
Identified regions in need of
direct government assistance
Only provided
limited investment
'too little too late'
The depression did not last as long in
Britain as it did in other countries
Real incomes
rose by 19%
Anotações:
Increase in income after taking inflation into account
Industrial production
rose by 46%
GNP rose by 23%
Exports increased by 28%
Unemployment fell from
17% to 8.5%
Removal from the Gold Standard
Cut in interest rates
Anotações:
Borrowing for businesses and individuals became cheaper. People invested more in property . This fueled a housing boom. The number of new houses built grew from 133 000 in 1931 to 279 000 in 1935
Banks became more willing to spend again
Stimulated economic
growth by
restructuring war
debts
Anotações:
Cost the country 25% of tax revenue as opposed to 40%
The problems faced by the National Government over rearmament
The role of the National Government during the Second World War
Developed specific ministries
The Ministry of Aircraft Production
The Ministry of Supply
The Ministry of War Production
The Ministry of Food
The Ministry of Labour and National Service
All ministries has legal powers
Could take over wartime industries
Decreased role of market forces
The government decided production levels
Not market forces
Anotações:
In peacetime production was determined by prices for goods and profits; during wartime production levels were decided by the government