PLANNING IN BRITAIN

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the planning in Britain. The high command of the Japanese industry is once more highly concentrated, following the failure of the American Occupation Authorities to smash the Zaibatsu, the great family trusts. In France, too, there is an informal control over the economy by the high bureaucracy who traditionally provide also a large part of the commanding personnel of the key institutions and firms, especially the great banks and the great insurance companies—all in national ownership. Thus, a pervasive influence over industry is secured through the control over short and long-term credit. It is clear that planning is required even in a democratic setting, if only to ensure stability in the system when resources are fully employed. The tendency towards decontrol has led, and is bound to lead, either to monetary instability, or to a far less than full employment of resources, and consequently to a slower rate of growth than would even be implicit in the voluntary decisions of the individuals making up the community had full employment been secured.