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

This book explores 19th-century railroad policies in the United States, France, and Britain to identify the roots of nations' modern industrial policy styles.

Frank Dobbin (Author)

9780521629904, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 13 July 1997

280 pages
23 x 15.2 x 1.7 cm, 0.395 kg

'… 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

The United States, France and Britain use markedly different kinds of industrial policies to foster economic growth today. 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.

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.

Subject Areas: Economic history [KCZ]