British Incomes Policy: 1964-1967
Abstract
The paper is divided into three major sections plus
a conclusion. In the first section, the nature of Britain's
problem is defined and two alternative solutions--an incomes
policy approach and a margin of unemployment approach--are
discussed. The second section deals with the chronological
development of the incomes policy.
The trade union movement, its reactions to the
government's policy and its relations with the government
are discussed in the third section. The structure of the
trade union movement is outlined in an effort to point out
those of its features which militate against the administration
of an effective incomes policy. The government's efforts
to gain the unions' co-operation by negotiating with the
Trades Union Conference(TUC), by offering threats and
inducements, by playing upon traditional loyalties of the
unions to the Labour Party, and by being lax in the
administration of its own policy are presented in the hope
that they may shed some light on the degree to which the
unions may be blamed for the policy's failure.
The conclusion has been divided into two parts.
First, evidence is offered to support the contention
that the policy was a failure. In the second part, some
of the possible explanations for this failure are drawn
together in a discussion of the relative merits of a
compulsory versus a voluntary policy. If you are not a current K College student, faculty, or staff member, email dspace@kzoo.edu to request access to this SIP.