Two Hundred Years of Muddling Through: The surprising story of Britain's economy from boom to bust and back again

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It's fair to say that Weldon succeeds in answering it with his pacy, vivid canter through the Industrial Revolution, two World Wars, post-war decline and resurgence in the 1980s, right up to the current crisis. The money France received helped fund their war, while France also needed clothing from the UK, which helped fund the UK war. Perhaps we should blame Churchill, whose “Keep Buggering On” mantra became a national catchphrase during the Second World War. It also shows the various examples of terrible policy decisions, from the 1920s to the bad responses to supply-side shocks in the 1970s as well as the austerity programme under Chancellor Osborne.

Two Hundred Years of Muddling Through — the end of British

Finally, the authors opinions are nuanced and balanced and driven by analysis rather than prior balance - very good all round. This provided an interesting insight into how political decisions have shaped the economy, and why some things are the way they are today. Along the way, Weldon makes some intriguing arguments, such as how successive generations of politicians swear they're fixing problems, only for a new variant to pop up a little later. Jim and Chris have an enjoyable, longer than usual, but highly entertaining chat with Duncan Weldon about his new book, ‘Two Hundred Years of Muddling Through.

The country contains some of Western Europe's richest areas such as the south east of England, but also some of its poorest such as the north east or Wales. OPB Politics Now" is a weekly podcast that takes a deep dive into the hottest political topics in Oregon and the Northwest. For a nation immersed in the traditions of entrepreneurial innovation and ambitious start-up companies, it’s surprising how little space economic history seems to occupy in the minds of the general population. Hear the former head of Mi6, Sir Richard Dearlove alongside international journalists as they analyse, interview, and discuss.

Hundred Years of Muddling Through by Duncan Weldon review Two Hundred Years of Muddling Through by Duncan Weldon review

Every Friday, OPB’s political reporters and special guests offer in-depth analysis, discussion and insight into candidates, events and issues.The pre 20th century section is a stong narrative history while the more familiar modern history contains plenty of useful correctives - Attlee's government spent more on defence than on health.