The National Wealth

Abstract

It is impossible to predict success for businesses in a highly competitive European marketplace without taking into account the impact of national economic, industrial and financial policies. The European economies differ greatly in character and efficiency from one country to another, and there are, in particular, fundamental differences in attitudes to the provision of finance for investment. Therefore, businesses in some countries, notably France and Germany, enjoy very significant advantages over businesses in other countries, such as Britain. The smaller, independent business is particularly vulnerable to these long- established differences, as well as to temporary fluctuations in economic and industrial policies, whether they occur across the international marketplace, or as a result of adverse factors arising out of the conduct of national policies.