An Early Experiment in Industrial Organization

An Early Experiment in Industrial Organization examines the New Lanark Mills in Scotland during the early 19th century under Robert Owen's management. The book analyzes Owen's implementation of social and labor reforms at this major cotton-spinning enterprise. Roll provides a detailed account of the business operations, working conditions, and innovative management practices at New Lanark during this period. The study draws on original documents and records to reconstruct the day-to-day functioning of one of Britain's largest industrial operations. The text focuses on Owen's attempts to balance commercial success with worker welfare through initiatives like education, housing, and healthcare. It documents the financial aspects, technological developments, and administrative structures that characterized this unusual industrial venture. The book offers insights into early industrial capitalism and the origins of modern labor management practices. Roll's analysis reveals tensions between humanitarian ideals and economic imperatives that continue to resonate in contemporary business ethics.

There are not enough internet reviews to create a summary of this book. Instead, here is a summary of reviews of Eric Roll's overall work: Readers consistently highlight Roll's clarity in explaining complex economic concepts, particularly in "A History of Economic Thought." Many students and academics cite his ability to trace economic ideas through history without losing the reader in technical details. What readers liked: - Clear explanations of difficult theories - Comprehensive coverage of economic history - Balanced treatment of different schools of thought - Useful as both a reference and learning tool What readers disliked: - Some sections feel dated (especially in older editions) - Limited coverage of non-Western economic thought - Dense writing style in certain chapters - Technical language can be challenging for beginners Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (based on 112 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (based on 47 reviews) One university student reviewer noted: "Roll manages to explain Marx's economic theories more clearly than Marx himself." A common criticism from modern readers points to the book's age: "Needs updating to include more recent economic developments and diverse perspectives."

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🔸 Sir Eric Roll, the author, served as a key economic advisor to the British government during WWII and helped shape Britain's post-war economic recovery policies. 🔸 The book examines the New Lanark Mills in Scotland, one of the earliest examples of socially responsible business practices, where owner Robert Owen provided workers with decent housing, education, and healthcare in the early 1800s. 🔸 The New Lanark experiment discussed in the book influenced the development of the cooperative movement and helped establish principles still used in modern corporate social responsibility. 🔸 Roll wrote this book while serving as a professor at University College Hull in 1935, before his distinguished career as a diplomat and chairman of S.G. Warburg & Co merchant bank. 🔸 The factory system described in the book reduced working hours for children from 14 to 10 hours per day - radical for its time - and established the first infant school in Britain.