Jewish Immigrant Entrepreneurship in New York and London 1880-1914 - (Studies in Modern History) by A Godley (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

How successful were the East European Jewish immigrants in London compared with the vast majority that went to New York? This critical question - one that lies at the heart of debates on Jewish modernity, ethnic and racial assimilation, and the impact of culture on entrepreneurship - is assessed systematically for the first time in this volume. Using new evidence of Jewish immigration, mobility and assimilation, Andrew Godley shows that despite similar backgrounds and opportunities, the Jews in London were far less entrepreneurial and those in New York. As the Jewish immigrants assimilated either American or British cultural values, those in New York moved en masse into self-employment, while those in London opted to remain as workers. Godley then reinterprets the broad thrust of British twentieth century economic history, emphasising how these long-standing anti-entrepreneurial and highly conservative craft cultural values among the English working classes acted as a drag on innovation, hampering industrial relations, investment and growth.

Review Quotes

'Andrew Godley has produced that rarity: a genuinely rigorous study of the economic role of culture...This is a superbly executed monograph which will be read with admiration and interest not only by economic historians, but also by social and cultural historians - to say nothing of historians of the Jewish diaspora.' - Niall Ferguson, Professor of Political and Financial History, Oxford, and author of The World's Banker: The History of the House of Rothschild

'...the research is excellent...' - Journal of American Ethnic History

'...the book will certainly be of value to scholars working on the history of Jewish immigration to Britain during the late nineteenth century as it provides useful statistical information and opens a new avenue of investigation. The author also deserves praise for his confidence in linking so many different strands...' - Panikos Panayi, De Montfort University, Leicester, The Economic History Review

'This highly original and imaginative work ought to be of considerable interest to an unusually wide range of historians and social scientists.' - William D. Rubinstein, English Historical Review

'Accessible, concise, provocative, stimulating...space should be made on their book shelves for this volume by all those who study migration as well as of those who research economic and ethnic history.' - Anne J. Kershen, Queen Mary University of London

'He tackles a major topic in economic history and in theprocess makes a valuable contribution to ethnic history.' - Richard Jensen, Journal of American Ethnic History

About the Author

ANDREW GODLEY teaches economic and business history at the University of Reading. He has published several books and articles on the subjects of ethnic entrepreneurship, the history of the clothing industry and the economics of culture.