The Impact of Recession

Britain experienced the impact of recession more immediately and sharply; over one million factory jobs were lost. Originally published in 1983 and now reissued iwth a new Preface by the author, this book points to the industries, corporations and places in which job losses occurred between 1976 and 1981.

Alan Townsend, Professor Emeritus, concluded his career at Durham University, UK, 1967-2005 as Director of the International Centre for Regional Regeneration & Development Studies at the Stockton campus. After studying Geography at Cambridge, he learnt the means of monitoring regional economic development as Research Officer at the Board of Trade Regional Office, Manchester and their Office for Scotland, Glasgow. He first came to the Northeast to work on Teesside Survey and Plan, and proceeded to qualify as MRTPI (Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute). His writing on UK economic development, planning and transport included four other single or jointly authored books. He was Director of the North East Area Study and of Nomis, the National Online Manpower Information System. He was awarded Recognition of an Outstanding Contribution by the Regional Studies Association in 2019. His work as Councillor of the former Wear Valley District Council, 1994-2007 included being Chair of Planning, and of Regeneration. He was also Chair of the North East Regional Information Network, 2011-7 and at the time of writing is Vice Chair of the Friends of the Stockton & Darlington Railway and Secretary of the County Durham Fabian Society. Alan.Townsend1939@gmail.com

1.Introduction Part 1: The Development of a Crisis in UK Industry and Employment 2. The Post-War Rise and Fall of Manufacturing Employment 3. Industrial Recession, 1976-1981: The National Incidence of Redundancy 4. Redundancies and Closures in the Big Corporations, 1976-1981 Part 2: The Regional Consequences 5. Recession in the Poorest Regions 6. Recession in the 'Manufacturing Heartland' 7. Recession in the Normally Prosperous South 8. Is Recession National? Explanations of the Distribution of Unemployment Part 3: Consequences for Past and Present Public Policies 9. The Impact on Growth Industries, New Towns and Government Assisted Areas 10. Regional Policies in Recession?