Black market Britain, 1939-1955 / by Mark Roodhouse.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Print version record.

Thanks to rationing and price control, Britain's underground economy flourished during the 1940s and early 1950s as producers, traders, and professional criminals helped consumers to get a little extra 'on the side'. Yet widespread evasion of regulations designed to ensure 'fair shares for all' did not undermine the austerity policies that characterised these years. Here, Mark Roodhouse argues that Britons showed self-restraint in their illegal dealings. The means, motives, and opportunities for evasion were not lacking. The shortages were real regulations were not watertight, and enforcement was haphazard.

""Cover""; ""Contents""; ""List of Figures""; ""List of Tables""; ""List of Abbreviations""; ""Preface""; ""Introduction: the �unethical� consumer""; ""PART I: �UNDER THE COUNTER�: EVADING ECONOMIC CONTROL""; ""Introduction""; ""1. �Large enough to cause concern�: gauging the extent of non-compliance""; ""2. �A matter of friendship�: the grey market""; ""3. Beating the ration: the �Black Market�""; ""PART II: �A STIFF ROD IN PICKLE�: ATTACKING BLACK MARKETS""; ""Introduction""; ""4. War and order: securing compliance""; ""5. On the street: enforcing the law""

""6. Sitting on the bench: the legal lottery""""PART III: �BLACK SHEEP�BLACK MARKETS�: MAKING MORAL CHOICES""; ""Introduction""; ""7. �We all fiddle�: legitimating evasion""; ""8. Thieves� kitchens: local markets for local people""; ""9. �No basic, more spivs�: public endorsement""; ""Conclusion: a fair trade""; ""Bibliography""; ""Index""; ""A""; ""B""; ""C""; ""D""; ""E""; ""F""; ""G""; ""H""; ""I""; ""J""; ""K""; ""L""; ""M""; ""N""; ""O""; ""P""; ""Q""; ""R""; ""S""; ""T""; ""U""; ""W""; ""Y""; ""Z""

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