The Chancellors Tales

This remarkable book tells the story of how the British economy has been managed over the last 30 years. The story is told by those who should know more about it than anyone else - the former Chancellors of the Exchequer in both Labour and Conservative administrations. "The Chancellors' Tales" offers a unique insider view of the management of a modern economy, charting the opportunities and constraints that each chancellor faced. The book provides a rare historical record of the difficulties and dilemmas of managing the British economy in an increasingly global age.Written with both deep insight and wit, the chapters follow the period in office of each of the chancellors. Each chapter offers a detailed account of the handling of the economy during that chancellors period of office. Taken together they provide a privileged insight into the way the British economy has been run and why. The chapters are written by Lord Healey, Lord Howe, Lord Lawson of Blaby, Lord Lamont and Kenneth Clarke, MP. The book also contains an introduction by Sir Howard Davies, Director of the London School of Economics. He provides a context in which to understand the contributions of each of the chapters which follow. The book will be of interest to specialists and non-specialists alike interested in understanding how government works and economies function.

Foreword * Introduction by Howard Davies * Lord Healey: Why the Treasury is so difficult * Questions and Answers * Lord Howe: Can 364 Economists all be Wrong? * Questions and Answers * Lord Lawson of Blaby: Changing the Consensus * Questions and Answers * Lord Lamont: Out of the Ashes * Questions and Answers * Kenneth Clarke MP: The Quest for the Holy Grail - Low Inflation and Growth * Questions and Answers * Afterword by Howard Davies * Appendix: Schedules

"Memoirs are all very well, but usually too long. This invaluable book gives us chancellors on their feet, after most of them have been on the ropes. I couldn't put it down." William Keegan, The Observer "One of the many fascinating sub-themes to emerge from this collection is how little regard even the more cerebral holders of the office since 1974 had for the craft of the professional economist ... the inclusion of the discussion transcripts [from the original lectures] is a great bonus." Peter Hennessy, The Times "This is a crucial text for those interested in British economic policy since the breakdown of Bretton Woods." Chris Huhne, The Business Economist "Almost all the chancellors holding office between 1974 and 1997 set out their personal interpretation of their experiences, with disarming openness at times - and Howard Davies brings the recurring themes together with great skill. Taken collectively these essays give us an absorbing insight into the conduct of economic policy." Lord Burns, Former Treasury Permanent Secretary

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