The Dutch Paper Industry from 1580 to the Present
The Survival of a Long-Established Industry
Abstract
This open access book is the first to provide an analysis of the Dutch paper industry over a period encompassing six centuries. Responding to a trend of renewed scholarly interest in paper industries and production, the book seeks to illuminate the factors behind this relatively small national industry’s centuries-long survival. Previous historical research has shown that sets of colonial, trade, merchant and family networks, tightly interwoven through a dense web of capital, were crucial for paper production and trade in early modern Europe. This book situates the Dutch paper industry within these overlapping contexts and their shifting dynamics over time, and historicizes the challenges and obstacles it had to overcome through four phases of capitalism: the rise of Dutch capitalism (1580–1815), Dutch monarchic liberalism (1815–1914), Fordism (1914–1980), and post-Fordism (1980 until now). Each chapter covers not only technological advancements in the industry, but its development alongside further determining dimensions, such as state-industry relations (industry policies), labour-capital relations (unions) and competition and cooperation, overall painting a picture of how the industry adapted to and endured changes in national and global networks surrounding the industry. This book will be of broad interest to scholars of economic and business history, as well as industrial history, political economy, and management studies.
Keywords
Dutch paper industry; paper; mechanic papermaking; technological innovation; Dutch business history; natural resources; pulp and paper industry; raw materials for paper industry; groundwood; Dutch 'golden age'; phases of capitalism; industry survival; industrialization; Post-Fordism; deregulationDOI
10.1007/978-3-031-54324-1ISBN
9783031543241, 9783031543234, 9783031543241Publisher
Springer NaturePublisher website
https://www.springernature.com/gp/products/booksPublication date and place
Cham, 2024Imprint
Palgrave MacmillanSeries
Palgrave Studies in Economic History,Classification
Economic history
Economics
History of engineering and technology