The Growth of Public Expenditure in the United Kingdom from 1870 to 2005

01 02 In this detailed and comprehensive analysis of governmental spending over the past 130 years, Clive Lee explains how and why public expenditure rose from little more than 10% of the national income to over 40% in recent years, and the sea change in attitudes about the role and nature of government that accompanied this rise. Clive Lee combines vivid social history with close economic analysis to provide a detailed picture of political forces in the UK from Victorian times to the present day, documenting the standoffs of Liberals, socialists and conservatives, the riseof the Labour party and the impact of the Thatcher years on expenditure and the public sector. 13 02 CLIVE LEE Emeritus Professor at the University of Aberdeen, UK. Until 1989 he taught in the Department of Economic History, specialising in the development of the international economy and quantification in Economic History. Between 1982-1985 he was responsible for the ESRC training programme in computing and statistics for UK postgraduate students in economic history. His current research interests lie in the history of economic thought and economic development in the twentieth century, and in the public and private provision of welfare. He is currently editing and contributing to the New History of Aberdeen, commissioned by Aberdeen City Council. 19 02 A detailed and comprehensive analysis of public expenditure over the past one hundred and fifty years Combines vivid social history with an economic perspective on the development of the public sector Documents the rise of the welfare state Strong statistical base for analysis Brings out constant political conflict between those wishing to extend and improve state provision and those wishing to reduce it 02 02 This book outlines the considerable increase in public expenditure in the UK from around 10 per cent of GDP in the 1870s to 40 per cent and above in the 21st century. Clive Lee explores the fluctuations in state spending, highlighting the ongoing political conflict over the size and extent of welfare provision. 04 02 Analysis of Sources of Public Revenue Analysis of Distribution and Size of Public Expenditure Appendix of Statistical Tables 31 02 Examines and explains the extensive growth of public expenditure in the UK over one hundred and thirty years