Made in Britain by Evan Davis

The economic crisis of 2007/08 has generated a plethora of books about what went wrong, who is to blame and what must be done to get it back on track.

Evan Davis’ Made in Britain is slightly different. The book, based on the BBC series of the same name, does discuss the financial crisis and the downturn. However, it takes a more generic look at the British economy, its strengths and weaknesses, its history and why it has evolved to what we have today.

The book has a positive and upbeat feel, without being over indulgent about how great the country is. In all the achievements covered, Davis still showcases what went wrong, the areas the UK failed to deliver on and the lessons needing to be learned.

It reviews how the country has diversified and transformed its economy over the centuries and how it compares with other major nations around the globe.

A significant amount of research has gone into Made in Britain, with a good array of key statistical information. But this doesn’t mean you need an economics degree to understand it!

Davis has a great way in being able to get across sometimes complicated detail in a succinct and easy to understand manner.

He looks at the manufacturing and services sectors specifically, and how the UK’s economy has moved from one to the other, and that this does not represent a failing economy but is actually the path of a successful one.

Made in Britain showcases that the UK manufacturing sector has transformed into more high-end specialist production because this is what generates the most wealth. He also advocates services and tries to dispel the stigma around the sector by showcasing its importance to generating wealth.

Review of Books scored: 4/5