This reissue (1983) examines the poor performance of British manufacturing. Rather than invoke orthodox economics or social factors, the book analyses four national conditions - enterprise control over the labour process; market structure / composition of demand; the relation of manufacturing to banks; the relation of manufacturing to government.

Introduction: Why are the British Bad at Manufacturing? Case Studies 1. GEC - An Outstanding Success? 2. Shipbuilding - Demand Linkage and Industrial Decline 3. BMC/BLMC/BL - A Misunderstood Failure

Karel Williams, John Williams, Dennis Thomas