Jan L. van Zanden in The Economic History of the Netherlands 1914-1995 answers these questions. In the first four chapters the long development of the economy is analysed in detail. Central to this part of the book are the rise (and decline) of managerial enterprise; the growth (and fall) of trade unions; and the expansion (and crisis) of the welfare state. The particular Dutch features of these institutional changes are highlighted. The second part of the book deals with different periods of growth (from 1914-1929, and 1950-1973), and relative stagnation (1929-1950, and 1973-1995). Moreover, van Zanden examines the role the Netherlands played in the process of European integration, and gives an explanation of the success of the 'Dutch job machine' in the 1980s and 1990s.

IThe Economic History of the Netherlands condenses all the most contemporary data and analysis into one convenient volume. In the first four chapters the author analyzes the long term development of the economy in detail, including the rise and decline of managerial enterprise, the growth and fall of trade unions, and the expansion and crisis of the welfare state. The second part of the book deals with different periods of growth and periods of relative stagnation. Van Zanden also examines the role of the Netherlands in the process of European integration.