Forging Industrial Policy: The United States, Britain, and France in the Railway Age

ISBN-13: 9780521629904 / Angielski / Miękka / 1997 / 280 str.

Frank Dobbin

Opis

The United States, France, and Britain use markedly different kinds of industrial policies to foster economic growth. To understand the origins of these different policies, this book examines the evolution of public policies governing one of the first modern industries, the railroads. The author challenges conventional thinking in economics, political science, and sociology by arguing that cultural meaning plays an important role in the development of purportedly rational policies designed to promote industrial growth. This book has implications for the study of rational institutions of all sorts, including science, management, and economics, as well as for the study of culture.

Recenzje

'… an excellent example of cultural analysis applied to economic policy, which challenges those who emphasise power and economic rationality as sources of national economic behaviour. Documenting the fact that railroad development policies varies sharply in France, Germany and the United States, he related these differences to national cultural characteristics. This book will be widely read and discussed.' Seymour Martin Lipset, George Mason University

Spis treści

Acknowledgements; Part I. Political Culture and Industrial Rationality: 1. Introduction; 2. Culture and meaning in modern states; 3. The argument; 4. Conclusion; Part II. The United States: 5. Intoduction; 6. Planning; 7. Finance; 8. Technical and managerial coordination; 9. Pricing and competition; 10. Conclusion; Part III. France: 11. Introduction; 12. Planning; 13. Finance; 14. Technical and managerial coordination; 15. Pricing and competition; 16. Conclusion; Part IV. Britain: 17. Introduction; 18. Planning; 19. Finance; 20. Technical and managerial coordination; 21. Pricing and competition; 22. Conclusion; Part V. Conclusion: 23. Introduction; 24. Culture and rationality; 25. Politics and rationality; 26. Economics and rationality; 27. Institutions and rationality; 28. Conclusion; Bibliography; Index.