To What Extent Did Margret Thatcher Impact the British Economy?

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A. Plan of Investigation
The purpose of this investigation is to analyze to what extent did Margret Thatcher, the prime minister of the United Kingdom, impact Britain's economy from 1997-1990. This analysis will look at themes revolving around her impact on the trade unions, tax rates, her impact on unemployment in the UK and her role in the Lawson Boom in the 1980s. However, how other neighboring countries besides the US were affected when Margaret Thatcher came to power will not be investigated. In order to research these themes, news articles in BBC will be used to help find how Margret Thatcher changed Britain and its economy. In Addition, books such as the "No Such Thing as Society" and other online journals will be used. This investigation will include an evaluation of the origin, purpose, value and limitations of the sources used for research.
B. Summary of Evidence
Tax Rates
• Tried hard to tame inflation, controlled public spending. "Getting people to believe inflation would fall, and so reduce their wage demands, was the aim" (Pym Hugh)
• Economic policy was known as Monetarism ("Thatcher's economic policies")
• Reduce it by placing higher interest rates and enforcing higher taxes and spending cuts (Smith David).
• Income tax was cut from 83% to 60% and the standard rate of income tax was cut from 33% to 30% (McSmith Andy, 25).
• Thatcher believed in the freedom of entrepreneurs (Laissez-faire) to create wealth through their own companies (Pym Hugh)
• "Reduce inflation running at over 20% in 1979, reduce budget deficit, increase efficiency of economy, and reduce power of trade union". (Pettinger Tejvan)
• Pound valuable: worth $1.63 but after a total of five years, the pound was worth $2.42 (McSmith ...

... middle of paper ...

... all their strikes and protests before she came to power during the 1970s. If it weren’t for Margret Thatcher and her strong ideas, the British economy would have never become flexible, powerful and competitive.

F. Sources
McSmith, Andy. No Such Thing as Society:. London: Constable, 2010. Print.

Pettinger, Tejvan. "Economic Impact of Margaret Thatcher." Economics Help. N.p., 19 Apr. 2013. Web. 07 Apr. 2014.

Pym, Hugh. "Margaret Thatcher: How the Economy Changed." BBC News. N.p., 8 Apr. 2013. Web. 07 Apr. 2014.

Smith, David. "EconoMonitor : EconoMonitor » Margaret Thatcher’s Four Ages of Monetary Policy." EconoMonitor RSS 092. N.p., 10 Apr. 2013. Web. 10 Apr. 2014.
Taylor, Adam. "Margaret Thatcher Fought One Huge Battle That Changed The UK Forever." Business Insider. Business Insider, Inc, 08 Apr. 2013. Web. 09 Apr. 2014.

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