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A Historical Approach to the Dyestuffs Industry
Author(s) -
Cliffe W. H.
Publication year - 1963
Publication title -
journal of the society of dyers and colourists
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.297
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1478-4408
pISSN - 0037-9859
DOI - 10.1111/j.1478-4408.1963.tb02554.x
Subject(s) - futures studies , paternalism , economics , chemical industry , economy , market economy , business , engineering , artificial intelligence , environmental engineering , computer science
Organised for a world economy, rich in natural resources, and with a traditionally liberal and moral outlook, nineteenth century Britain was singularly well qualified to be the birthplace of the synthetic‐dye industry. Yet, in the case of the organic chemical industry, the social and economic conditions that were often so favourable to the innovation and growth of industrial and commercial enterprises were not those best suited to combat the paternalism and planned economies of the aspiring new Germany. Thinking in terms of large‐scale production of relatively cheap materials, British industrialists built up highly profitable industries based on the production and export of coal‐tar and its distillation products. Without imagination, intellectual foresight, and stimulus from other industries, the British chemical industry stood aside whilst other nations developed their own dye‐making enterprises. A European war and a renewal of belief in a modicum of State intervention were turning points marking a new determination on the part of Great Britain to be no longer subservient to foreign domination in the field of organic chemicals.