economic impacts during world war 2
In a word... HUGE!!!
Economic Effects Of War:
-Many men went to fight in war
-Women did their work in factories
This had a long-term effect upon women's lib, although many gains seemed
to evaporate straight after the war: when the men came back war, many women went
back to the kitchen.
However, many of leaders of women's lib in the 1860s had begun their
careers during the war.
There was a huge growth in munitions/ aircraft industries –other industries (eg house
building) was put on hold.
There was a huge emphasis on food production – Dig for Victory
Rationing – notably of petrol
Shortages of workers – schedule of Protected Occupations prevented the
call-up of key workers to the armed services, and the Essential Works Order
(1941) allowed the government to conscript people to certain work.
Of course, after the war, all the men came home and this created further
employment disruption.
The Government had to take control of the economy – eg who worked where, trade,
railways, shipping, banking etc.
Massive government debts were accumulated, particularly to America (remember Lend-lease)
Many men (including COs) were sent to work in the mines
Huge losses of merchant shipping to submarines
Destruction of factories/machines – in 1945 Britain LOST 12% of her productive capacity
Destruction by bombing created a need for massive house building after the war.
Recruitment and training of workers was disrupted - there were long-term bad effects on the
quality of British workmanship and management.
There were many scientific advances, which were to have a GREAT effect in the years to
come (eg the computer, mass-produced antibiotics, DDT, jet engines)
Growth in Trade Unions and strikes - workers did NOT willingly put up with the
appalling conditions, and rather used their indispensibility to negotiate better
conditions and wages.
The government set up the Beveridge Committee which brought in the
Welfare State after the war.
It also adopted a new way of running the economy (called Keynesian
economics) which promised full employment (compare life during the Depression
before the war).
The Bretton Woods Conference (1944) set up the International Monetary Fund to try to
prevent another world economic depression.
SOURCE: http://www.johndclare.net/wwii1_economic_effects.htm
Economic Effects Of War:
-Many men went to fight in war
-Women did their work in factories
This had a long-term effect upon women's lib, although many gains seemed
to evaporate straight after the war: when the men came back war, many women went
back to the kitchen.
However, many of leaders of women's lib in the 1860s had begun their
careers during the war.
There was a huge growth in munitions/ aircraft industries –other industries (eg house
building) was put on hold.
There was a huge emphasis on food production – Dig for Victory
Rationing – notably of petrol
Shortages of workers – schedule of Protected Occupations prevented the
call-up of key workers to the armed services, and the Essential Works Order
(1941) allowed the government to conscript people to certain work.
Of course, after the war, all the men came home and this created further
employment disruption.
The Government had to take control of the economy – eg who worked where, trade,
railways, shipping, banking etc.
Massive government debts were accumulated, particularly to America (remember Lend-lease)
Many men (including COs) were sent to work in the mines
Huge losses of merchant shipping to submarines
Destruction of factories/machines – in 1945 Britain LOST 12% of her productive capacity
Destruction by bombing created a need for massive house building after the war.
Recruitment and training of workers was disrupted - there were long-term bad effects on the
quality of British workmanship and management.
There were many scientific advances, which were to have a GREAT effect in the years to
come (eg the computer, mass-produced antibiotics, DDT, jet engines)
Growth in Trade Unions and strikes - workers did NOT willingly put up with the
appalling conditions, and rather used their indispensibility to negotiate better
conditions and wages.
The government set up the Beveridge Committee which brought in the
Welfare State after the war.
It also adopted a new way of running the economy (called Keynesian
economics) which promised full employment (compare life during the Depression
before the war).
The Bretton Woods Conference (1944) set up the International Monetary Fund to try to
prevent another world economic depression.
SOURCE: http://www.johndclare.net/wwii1_economic_effects.htm