Learn › Economic history › Thatcher's Economic Policy
Economic history · Britain
Learn what Thatcher's governments did to the British economy, why each policy was so controversial, and whether it worked.
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The last module, the final test and the Ceteris Certificate are for members. How the certificate works
Modules are written to be read in order: each one opens on the question the last one closed with. Start wherever you like.
1 Britain's Economy in 1979 Learn how Britain's economy was run from 1945 to 1979, and why it broke down in the Winter of Discontent. 9 steps · 14 min Done 2 Thatcher's War on Inflation Learn how Thatcher tried to bring inflation down, and why 364 economists said it would not work. 8 steps · 12 min Done 3 The Decline of British Manufacturing Learn how much of British manufacturing was lost in the 1980s, which places were hit hardest, and why. 5 steps · 8 min Done 4 The Pound and the North Sea Learn how North Sea oil pushed up the pound, and why a Chancellor resigned over it. 6 steps · 9 min Done 5 Thatcher and the Unions Learn how Thatcher's governments curbed the trade unions, and what happened to strikes as a result. 6 steps · 9 min Done 6 The Miners' Strike Learn why the miners went on strike in 1984, and how the government won. 6 steps · 9 min Done 7 Privatisation Under Thatcher Learn what Thatcher's governments sold off, and why new regulators had to be created. 8 steps · 12 min Done 8 Right to Buy Learn how Right to Buy sold council homes to their tenants, and how it changed home ownership in Britain. 6 steps · 9 min Done 9 The Big Bang and the Lawson Boom Learn how freeing up the City led to a borrowing boom in the late 1980s, and how it ended. 6 steps · 9 min Done 10 Tax and the Public Finances Learn how Thatcher's governments changed tax, and why the overall tax burden ended up higher. 6 steps · 9 min Done 11 The Welfare State and the Poll Tax Learn what happened to welfare spending under Thatcher, and how the poll tax ended her premiership. 8 steps · 12 min Done 12 The Legacy of Thatcherism Learn what Thatcher's policies achieved and what they did not, from growth and productivity to unemployment and inequality. 6 steps · 9 min Done 13 Disinflation in Britain and France Learn how much of the fall in British inflation was down to Thatcher, compared with France's opposite approach. 3 steps · 4 min Members Done Members · final stepFinal test and Ceteris Certificate15 questions, 19 minutes. Pass to earn a graded certificate (Pass, Merit or Distinction) for Thatcher's Economic Policy, with a link anyone can use to check it. Membership opens the final module, the test and the certificate.Leave an address and you will hear as each module goes up.
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Country data from the World Bank (CC BY 4.0) and the UNDP Human Development Report (CC BY 3.0 IGO)
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