The Metropolitan Economics of Empire

This chapter concentrates on the metropolitan economic structure of the British Empire. It also focuses on the British side of the equation because B. R. Tomlinson extends the discussion into the post-colonial era. During the 20th century, the British had to make a choice between an open, multilateral economic system, based on free trade between all countries, and a more or less closed Imperial economy. There were three main methods by which a modern Imperial state such as Britain might attempt to obtain special economic benefit from possession of colonies: by regulating their trade; by manipulating their monetary systems; and by investing in them. These main methods are specifically described. Moreover, a discussion on currency and the sterling area, capital investment in the Empire; commercial advantages of Empire before 1914, between the wars, and after the Second World War is provided.

Ancient history · Archaeology · Economic geography · Economics · Empire · Metropolitan area · Historical Economic and Social Studies · History

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