The book examines the impact of deindustrialization on the American political economy through a case study of the New England region. New England experienced dramatic downsizing in textiles and other traditional industries beginning in the 1920s and lasting for much of the twentieth century. The book concentrates on events in Massachusetts, by far the most populous New England state and the one hit hardest by industrial decline. The volume spotlights developments in the 1920s, 30s, and early 40s, when the problem of deindustrialization was new. Cold War–era episodes of industrial downsizing ar ... More

The book examines the impact of deindustrialization on the American political economy through a case study of the New England region. New England experienced dramatic downsizing in textiles and other traditional industries beginning in the 1920s and lasting for much of the twentieth century. The book concentrates on events in Massachusetts, by far the most populous New England state and the one hit hardest by industrial decline. The volume spotlights developments in the 1920s, 30s, and early 40s, when the problem of deindustrialization was new. Cold War–era episodes of industrial downsizing are examined as well. Attention focuses on cotton textiles, New England’s largest troubled sector in the post–World War I period and the one declining most rapidly at that time. The demise of traditional manufacturing in New England resulted in a number of initiatives to address the problem, backed by a variety of interest groups. The effects of industrial decline on the political economy played out principally through these efforts. Three distinct initiatives to counter deindustrialization were advanced in New England. First was what can be called “retrenchment”—a drive to reduce business regulations and taxes so as to enhance the competitiveness of area industries. Second was “federal assistance”—an effort to secure federal government aid for declining industries and locales affected by downsizing. Third was “economic development”—an attempt to develop new regional industries to replace those in decline. The study describes each effort in detail, looks at the groups who supported it, and assesses the outcome.