Book Chapter
State Formation and the Construction of Institutions for the First Industrial Nation

New institutional economics lacks a theory of state formation which could help us to deal with the mega question of why some states became more efficient than others at establishing and sustaining institutions. Some kind of middle range theory could be formulated based upon historical case studies. This paper considers the case of Britain and as its title suggests degrades the myth of the United Kingdom as the paradigm example of liberalism and laisser faire. In making its precocious transition to and industrial market economy the kingdom’s history is best represented as a case of successful mercantilism.