War forced comprehensive state economic control that outperformed laissez-faire.

Evidence

Faced with a choice between victory or defeat, the governments of the warring countries introduced unprecedented economic practices. The words of Edward M. H. Lloyd, a civil servant in the British War Ministry, summarized this shift: “National organization and centralized control were found to be more effective than high prices and laissez-faire in stimulating supply.” Comprehensive state intervention was underway. As early as 1915, the Italian economist Riccardo Bachi wrote, “The State, as a war entrepreneur, has become the center, the pivot, the engine of the entire economy.” — Clara E. Mattei, Escape from Capitalism, 168

Categorization

• XREF: Italy case per the reading purpose: Bachi’s ‘state as war entrepreneur’ is the departure point for the British and Italian austerity chapters ahead. — connects to: Competing state-capitalist blocs destabilized the global economy and caused World War II. — Alex Callinicos, Against Postmodernism: A Marxist…, 521; Fordism required active nation-state economic management. — David Harvey, The Condition of Postmodernity: An…, 813; Government wartime economic policy revealed state as instrument of class domination — Clara E. Mattei, The Capital Order: How Economists…, 204 (+8 more)