The Working Class in Glasgow

Originally published in 1987, this book examines how much industrialisation improved the standard of living of the British worker, based on the experience of one representative city: Glasgow. It analyses whether there was an increase in skilled as opposed to unskilled labour in major industrial centres - as for example in Glasgow, manufacturing shifted from textiles to engineering. Other important issues such as the rate of housing construction, public health, local politics and leisure pursuits are also considered. Glasgow has a long history of working-class culture and is therefore a particularly interesting city to study.

R. A. Cage was Head of the Department of Economic History at the University of New England, Australia.

Introduction - The Standard of Living Debate 1. Population and Employment Characteristics 2. Housing 3. Health in Glasgow 4. The Nature and Extent of Poor Relief 5. Glasgow Working-Class Politics 6. Popular Culture in Glasgow.