This book provides a genuinely comparative picture of economic growth in Europe after 1945.

This compelling volume re-examines the topic of economic growth in Europe after the Second World War. The contributors approach the subject armed not only with new theoretical ideas, but also with the experience of the 1980s on which to draw. The analysis is based on both applied economics and on economic history. Thus, while the volume is greatly informed by insights from growth theory, emphasis is given to the presentation of chronological and institutional detail. The case study approach and the adoption of a longer-run perspective than is normal for economists allow new insights to be obtained. As well as including chapters that consider the experience of individual European countries, the book explores general European institutional arrangements and historical circumstances. The result is a genuinely comparative picture of post-war growth, with insights that do not emerge from standard cross-section regressions based on the post-1960 period.

Preface
1. Post-war growth: an overview Nicholas Crafts and Gianni Toniolo

2. Institutions and economic growth: Europe after World War II Barry Eichengreen: 3. The varieties of Eurosclerosis: the rise and decline of nations since 1982 Mancur Olson
4. Why the 1950s and not the 1920s? Olsonian and non-Olsonian interpretations of two decades of German economic history Karl-Heinz PaquE

5. Convergence, competitiveness and the exchange rate Andrea Boltho
6. British economic growth since 1945: relative economic decline ... and Renaissance? Charles Bean and Nicholas Crafts
7. Economic growth in postwar Belgium Isabelle Cassiers, Philippe de VillE and Peter M. Solar
8. France 1945-92 Pierre Sicsic and Charles Wyplosz
9. Economic growth and the Swedish model Magnus Henrekson, Lars Jonung and Joakim Stymna
10. Characteristics of economic growth in the Netherlands during the postwar period Bart van Ark, Jakob de Haan and Herman J. de Jong
11. Portuguese postwar growth: a global approach JoAo L. CEsar das Neves
12. Growth and macroeconomic performance in Spain, 1939-93 Leandro Prados de la Escosura and Jorge C. Sanz
13. Irish economic growth, 1945-88 Cormac O GrAda and Kevin O'Rourke
14. Italy Nicola Rossi and Gianni Toniolo
15. West German growth and institutions, 1945-90 Wendy Carlin
16. An exercise in futility: East German economic growth and decline, 1945-89 Albrecht O. Ritschl
17. Postwar growth in the Danish economy Peder J. Pedersen
18. Reflections on the country studies Nicholas Crafts and Gianni Toniolo
Index.