Baby Boomers and Sociological change<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 1970\u2019s is a more complex era than often thought .It possessed aspects and elements of continuity with profound undercurrents of contradictions Teenagers and the youth economy of the 1960\u2019s evolved into\u00a0 responsibilities , marriage families and homes.<\/p>\n

Underpinning changes in society and employment were powerful technological forces .The heavy industries and male employment tended to decline and replaced with service industries and female employment [many women having entered university and or higher education etc.] Women were more likely to be employed in the emerging occupations associated with Banking, finance, retailing and tele-marketing. For example in the 1950\u2019s British Leyland controlled 52% of world auto exports but by 1974 they had fallen to sixth place.<\/p>\n

The changing gender roles possibly might be expressed in Margaret Thatcher becoming PM.<\/p>\n

Some sources suggest between 1965 and 1980 2 million manufacturing jobs were lost in UK.These were predominantly in heavy industries like car manufacture, mining, ship building, mining, steel.[see specific reference to Northern Ireland below]<\/p>\n

Sadly perhaps too Britain has suffered in terms of productivity and investment, but this must be seen in the context of capital mobility and cheap labour around the globe.<\/p>\n

The era perhaps marked the end of British manufacturing and being the workshop of the world. Structural change and new realities in industry perhaps killed Keynesian economics and the post war dream of infinitely expanding affluent society.<\/p>\n

The 1970\u2019s also had a cynical underbelly and there was corruption in property and other attitudes to easy money.<\/p>\n

Perhaps too the demographic change allied with economic structural change possibly provoked a shift from 1960\u2019s liberalism to a reactionary throw back and degrees of self-protection. These changes possibly impacted on taste, fashion and products along with behavior and cultural norms and values.<\/p>\n

The 1970\u2019s witnessed wars , revolution, civil wars ,oil crisis ,high inflation, high taxes ,spending cuts ,businesses closing , rising unemployment , redundancies , industrial unrest , the Troubles and industrial subsidies, recession .Some suggest that the roots of conflict in various forms was based in poverty.<\/p>\n

Possibly underestimated was the growth of credit like Barclay card and Access and negative impacts in the longer term. Perhaps too the explosion in mortgage availability in the 1970\u2019s kicked off an economy that became increasingly over dependent on property .Also into the equation came North Sea oil which in some respects was a savior but this too possibly concealed and deceived and postponed larger economic change which was needed.<\/p>\n

Perhaps simply, culturally the country and society was struggling with modernism, change of identity, role and wealth distribution patterns.<\/p>\n

Suddenly into collision were powerful forces some seeking modernism, others protectionism and the status quo.<\/p>\n

1: Socio-Economic climate of 1970\u2019s<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Value of a Pound\u201d provides a tight economic summary of the decade. In their chapter of the era they call \u201cYears of Change\u201d they observe:-<\/p>\n

\u201cIn 1970 unemployment was at its highest level in years inflation was raging out of control and economic growth was at its lowest level since 1964.The violence in Northern Ireland had exploded in 1969\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026to deal with the chronic unemployment was the \u201clame duck\u201d policy \u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.it also helped to increase public expenditure \u2026\u2026\u2026.and subsequently exacerbated the rising level of inflation \u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.rapid world commodity prices caused an even worse Balance of Payments crisis \u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026..was between the Arab states and Israel\u00a0 caused oil prices to quadruple in 1973\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.the value of the pound decreased radically which led the Government to go to the IMF for monetary aid \u2026\u2026\u2026.inflation continued to increase \u2026\u2026\u2026..unemployment ,however reached a peak of 1.6 m in 1977\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026…<\/p>\n

Between 1970 -79…It suffered from chronic unemployment and high inflation and lagged behind its export competitors in technology and business practice .prices doubled and unemployment tripled \u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

.\u201cCynical Times \u201cis how Miller describes the 1970\u2019s<\/p>\n

\u201cThe 1960\u2019s had been a time of space exploration , Beatles tunes and flower power.as the decade drew to a close the optimism and sense of progress that typified the post war years\u00a0 was being replaced\u00a0 with deep cynicism .interest rates were increasing ,inflation was rising and the number of unemployed was growing at an alarming rate .the US involvement in Vietnam war had escalated out of control ,their technology superiority failing to gain them an easy victory , for the first time scientists were warning about the damage being done to the planet, then came the energy crisis.<\/p>\n

In 1973 the oil rich Arab nations angry at the wests support for Israel cut oil supplies in protest .an energy crisis ensued in the us ,Europe and japan with dramatic price rises \u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n

Effects from the net:-<\/strong><\/p>\n

Recession <\/strong><\/p>\n