3.3.3

Economic Impact of WW2

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The Economic Impact of WW2

Britain and its Empire's economy suffered during WW2.

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The economic impact of WW2 on Britain

  • On the home front, rationing would persist in Britain until 1954. Lots of buildings, homes, and factories were destroyed by the Luftwaffe's bombing.
  • Britain’s economic position was severely weakened by World War Two.
  • After World War Two, Britain's Debt to GDP ratio had risen from 110% to 240%.
  • To fund the war effort, Britain had been forced to sell all of its overseas assets. The most notable was Courtauld's American Viscose Corporation, which was sold in a firesale for half of its true value.
  • The British had accumulated huge debts to the United States because of the war effort and lend-lease (borrowing munitions from America during the war).
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The trading impact of WW2 on Britain

  • Keynes, a famous British economist expected the UK to have a Balance of Payments deficit of $9bn after the war (this would be worth $135bn today).
  • Britain's balance of payments problems led to a dollar shortage that forced them to introduce quotas on imports.
  • The dollar shortage and balance of payments problems encouraged trade with Europe over the USA.
  • However, Neal (2004) says that Britain's desire to keep preferential trade agreements with its colonies separated Britain "economically & politically from both US & Europe".
  • In 1949, the government was forced to devalue the currency from £1 = $4.03 to £1 = $2.80.
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Economic impact of WW2 on the Empire

  • During World War 2, German U-boats attacked British sea traffic. 11.7 million tonnes of shipping was sunk by German submarines.
  • In Asia, Japan had captured Singapore, Malaya, and many other British territories.
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The Empire after WW2

  • Britain faced a balance of payments crisis and debt crisis after World War 2.
  • At the same time, nationalist movements in most colonies were resisting British control.
  • The Colonial Welfare Acts of 1940 and 1945 allocated £120 million to economic development in the colonies.

Jump to other topics

1High Water Mark of the British Empire, 1857-1914

2Imperial Consolidation & Liberal Rule, 1890-1914

3Imperialism Challenged, 1914-1967

4The Wind of Change, 1947-1967

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