Chapter 7
The ‘Americanisation’ of productivity, 1948–51
Periodically in the twentieth century British firms and governments, conscious of the economy's relative decline, have turned to the USA for a model of how things might be done better.1 The late 1940s was one such period. As on previous occasions, looking across the Atlantic for ideas to improve efficiency and productivity was conditioned by a range of short-term factors, and these also shaped what was seen as relevant in the US model. This chapter focuses on the causes and effects of the Labour Government's attempts to encourage British industry to adopt features of American production techniques, especially but not only via the Anglo-American Council on Productivity (AACP). ...
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