British Early Energy Nationalization Policy Study (1918-1951)

Britain is the cradle of modern industrial revolution. In more than a century, Britain has been in its solid economic foundation, a strong military strength dominating the world. But when the wheel of history into the 20th century, especially after the first world war, in the face of the rise of emerging powers, Britain's economy began to decline. It is not only faced with the recovery of the domestic production order, and also faced with the industrial productivity is low and the lack of competitiveness. Therefore, the British government had to change the original laissez-faire economic thought, to each big industry to adopt and implement policy of nationalization. Nationalization policy depends on the development of British industry and the domestic economic environment, the outbreak of the first world war the British economy into wartime economic track, and this is the British government began to form of state intervention in the economy. Wartime state control effect to the subsequent Attlee government regard it as an important policy to promote the development of the economy. This article mainly British energy state as the main line, in three stages, respectively discusses the coal, electric power, the establishment of the nationalization of the electrical industry policy and implementation.The paper mainly divides into five parts:The first part mainly discusses the theoretical basis of the nationalization of policy. By discussing the nationalization of the origin of the term and it is able to survive in the UK, it is analyzed to the beginning of the 20th century, the overall development in Britain, the nationalization policies is not a vicious cycle is obtained under the endless competition, but under the guidance of the government and orderly, benign competition process. The British imposed for later nationalization policies laid a solid foundation.The second part mainly introduces the between the two world wars, which is 1918-1940, the development of the nationalization of energy policy. On coal, electricity and gas energy industry is discussed. For each industry in the severe situation faced by the first world war and the plight of industry development is analyzed, and the government of industry research and development status of review, finally respectively under the leading of nationalization policies on the reform and restructuring.The third part mainly introduced during the second world war the development of the nationalization of energy policy. In the face of the special environment of world war ii, the utility of the wartime economy control powerfully impelled the nationalization of the implementation of the energy. Not only that, during this period, and the joint between the tories and Labour regime at the helm of the period, therefore, this stage a further development of nationalization of Britain's energy policy. Coal, electricity and gas energy industry under the British government's push to continue to develop.The fourth part mainly introduces the attlee government period the climax of nationalization of energy policy. This phase is more mature stage in the development of nationalisation, attlee aggressive nationalization policy reform of coal, electricity and gas energy industry fully implements the nationalization. This one phase of nationalization policies not only brought great development to the energy industry, for the British economy at that time also had a positive effect.The fifth part as a summary, for the British in coal, electricity and gas energy industry nationalization policy review, it didn't happen overnight, but the British in half a century jointly contribute to the result of comprehensive factors. The British energy nationalization policies to promote the development of the UK economy and the British during the war to continue to play an important industry, for the UK economy which lays an important foundation for the development of the 20th century.