>>513954099
>low taxes made it possible
That's ONE component, sure, but NOT the primary driver.
As I said, these Public Subsidies lowered the cost of doing business, in such a dramatic way, that it IN ITSELF, made the Industrial Revolution possible.
PERIOD.
Part 1/2
Canals and Infrastructure Investment (1760β1830)
Canals reduced transport costs for raw materials (e.g., coal, iron) and finished goods, enabling economies of scale in industries like textiles, iron, and pottery.
Coal Industry Support via Tax Exemptions and Infrastructure (1700sβ1800s)
Coal was the energy backbone of industrial capitalism, powering steam engines and iron production. Tax exemptions and infrastructure lowered costs, making English coal globally competitive
Municipal Gas Supply (1870sβ1940s)
Local governments, particularly in industrial cities like Manchester and Birmingham, took over private gas companies from the 1870s onward, operating them as public utilities. Gas was provided at or near cost to households and industries, with profits often reinvested into municipal services. By the 1940s, gas was nationalised under the Gas Act 1948, further standardising low-cost supply.
Municipal Water Supply (1870sβ1950s)
Municipalities acquired private water companies to provide clean water at low cost, driven by public health needs and industrial demand. Major projects, like Birminghamβs Elan Valley reservoirs (1890sβ1900s), were publicly funded. Water rates were kept low, effectively subsidising industries and urban populations.
Electricity Supply and Nationalisation (1890sβ1950s)
Municipal and later national electricity supply began in the 1890s, with public ownership expanding after the Electricity (Supply) Act 1919 and full nationalisation under the Electricity Act 1947. Electricity was provided at cost or subsidised rates to industries, especially after 1926 grid standardisation.