Changes

In Eastern Europe, the Communist governments nationalized all the mines and factories after 1945.

In Eastern Europe, the Communist governments nationalized all the mines and factories after 1945.

West Germany did not nationalize industry after 1945, even though the Labour party in Britain favored it and Britain controlled much of the industrial region. The American military governor, General Lucius Clay, apart from a basic distaste for socialization, opposed nationalization of the coal mines and of other basic industries on pragmatic grounds. But it was not only the Americans who stopped socialization. During the federal election of 1949 its advocates could not offer a concept which was able to secure a national majority for their ideas, because of fears that they would hinder recovery. The ability to meet this concern - "Recovery Now!" - is what made neo-liberalism so appealing at the end of the forties.  

West Germany did not nationalize industry after 1945, even though the Labour party in Britain favored it and Britain controlled much of the industrial region. The American military governor, General Lucius Clay, apart from a basic distaste for socialization, opposed nationalization of the coal mines and of other basic industries on pragmatic grounds. One german state, controlled by the Socialists (SPD) passed a bill in North Rhine-Westphalia in 1948 to nationalize basic industries. The occupation powers vetoed it, reserving the decision for a future German parliament. But it was not only the Americans who stopped socialization. There was no overwhelming German popular support for nationalization. During the federal election of 1949 Socialist advocates could not offer a concept which was able to secure a national majority for their ideas, because of fears that they would hinder recovery. The ability to meet this concern - "Recovery Now!" - is what made the neo-liberalism of Chancellor [[Konrad Adenauer]] and his economics minister [[Ludwig Erhard]] so appealing at the end of the forties.  

Co-operation on coal trading was the impetus for forming the "European Coal and Steel Community" in 1951.  Integrationists like French foreign minister Robert Schuman realized that coordinating the coal and steel markets of Germany, France, Italy and the Low Countries  could lead to "spillover" in other policy areas; the ECSC indeed morphed into the [[EEC]] and [[European Union]].<ref>  J. Gillingham, ''Coal, steel, and the rebirth of Europe, 1945-1955'' (1991); Derek W. Urwin, ''The Community of Europe: A History of European Integration since 1945.'' (1995)</ref>

Co-operation on coal trading was the impetus for forming the "European Coal and Steel Community" in 1951.  Integrationists like French foreign minister [[Robert Schuman]] realized that coordinating the coal and steel markets of Germany, France, Italy and the Low Countries  could lead to "spillover" in other policy areas; the ECSC indeed morphed into the [[EEC]] and [[European Union]].<ref>  J. Gillingham, ''Coal, steel, and the rebirth of Europe, 1945-1955'' (1991); Derek W. Urwin, ''The Community of Europe: A History of European Integration since 1945.'' (1995)</ref>

==Privitization==

==Privitization==

Privatization has been one of the central planks of economic and industrial policy pursued by British Conservative governments since 1979, and endorsed by [[Tony Blair]]'s Labour party as well.  

Privatization has been one of the central planks of economic and industrial policy pursued by British Conservative governments since 1979, and endorsed by [[Tony Blair]]'s Labour party as well.