John Barton and debates on economic policy in the first half of nineteenth century England

Professor Jou Ishii from the College of Economics, Kanto Gakuin University in Japan is an expert in the history of economics. He is building on his knowledge on economic thought to expand understanding on the social security of citizens. He is interested in expanding his knowledge on 19th century English economist John Barton. Barton studied the effects of the introduction of machinery during the period when the term ‘Luddite’ was coined, referring to English textile workers who rioted and destroyed machinery, believing it to be a threat to their jobs. Ishii is studying Barton’s thoughts on the issue of economic policy in the first half of the 19th century in England to fill gaps in knowledge and further expand understanding of Barton’s progressive thoughts. Ishii’s focus is on Barton’s thoughts on economic policy, specifically, with a view to thoroughly evaluating him and his thoughts. Ishii is also exploring debates on policy issues in the first half of the 19th century with consideration of the influence of classical political economy on the modernisation and westernisation of Japan after the second half of the 19th century. Ishii was initially interested in how small riots grew to become nationwide movements, but later interested in the economic and social structure underlying them. He is also exploring the difference between the situation in England and Japanese society, which had gone through a process of modernisation in the second half of the 19th century without overcoming the semi-feudal system of land ownership.