Costing, Pricing and Politics in the British Steel Industry, 1918-1967

Abstract:     
Steel occupied an important place in British industry throughout the period covered by this paper, supplying raw materials for the production of capital goods such as machinery, ships, building, bridges and motor vehicles. Much of the existing relevant literature on uniform costing is confined to a discussion of its potential for price fixing by companies concerned to drive out 'cutthroat competition' from within a particular trade. This paper, in contrast, studies the tensions surrounding central government's use of uniform costing data as the basis for fixing prices at a level designed to produce a reasonable return on investment, encouraging modernisation and enabling informed decisions to be made concerning the assessment of development plans. The paper demonstrates the problematic role of accounting as a basis for resource application decisions in two separate ways. First, the difficulty of devising and implementing an effective system of uniform costing, given the technical frailty of what was being attempted and the unwillingness of companies to change established accounting procedures. Second, the reluctance and in some cases refusal of companies to supply neutral accounting numbers to reach decisions - pricing and import tariffs - that affect their economic value.

Keywords: uniform costing, steel industry, accounting change

JEL Classifications: M40, M46

Accepted Paper Series