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.

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.

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.