I am currently working as a Senior Lecturer at The York Management School. I hold a BA and an MA from the University of Sheffield and a DPhil from Oxford University. I have previously worked as a Research Associate on the Leverhulme Trust-funded "Tipping Points" project at Durham University.
Current Research My work principally focuses on various aspects of nineteenth- and twentieth-century British socio-economic history.
Current areas of interest include:
> Stability and instability in the British banking sector > Fraud and white-collar crime > Risk and risk management > Shadow banking and financial innovation > Business ethics and corporate responsibility
ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Recently, Early Warning Signals (EWS) have been developed to predict tipping... more ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Recently, Early Warning Signals (EWS) have been developed to predict tipping points in Earth Systems. This discussion highlights the potential to apply EWS to human social and economic systems, which may also undergo similar critical transitions. Social tipping points are particularly difficult to predict, however, and the current formulation of EWS, based on a physical system analogy, may be insufficient. As an alternative set of EWS for social systems, we join with other authors encouraging a focus on heterogeneity, connectivity through social networks and individual thresholds to change.
This article looks at the key factors behind the failure of the Birkbeck Bank in 1911. Using a wi... more This article looks at the key factors behind the failure of the Birkbeck Bank in 1911. Using a wide range of primary source material, it charts how the Bank emerged from its philanthropic roots as a mutual building society in the 1870s to go on and enjoy spectacular growth during the late nineteenth century before eventually faltering and failing in the early twentieth century. Throughout the analysis, particular attention is given to the investment decisions taken by the Bank’s management and the impact that these had on the Bank’s fortunes. In addition, the article also looks at the extent to which the Birkbeck Bank’s overall business model differed from those of other banks in this period. Ultimately, what it shows is that the Bank’s failure to modify its investment strategy quickly enough in response to changing market conditions — most notably the fall in the value of Consols and other gilt-edged securities — proved to be the decisive factor in its eventual collapse. For this reason, the article contends, it is appropriate to categorise the 1911 Birkbeck Bank failure as one caused by strategic inertia rather than excessive risk-taking.
Historians and sociologists have long had a fascination with the idea of the postwar British ‘aff... more Historians and sociologists have long had a fascination with the idea of the postwar British ‘affluent society’. Yet, up until now, most work in this area has been centred upon developments within the private and commercial sectors of the British economy. What this article shows is that rising levels of affluence, and the subsequent emergence of mass consumerism, also had quite profound effects upon the British public sector during the 1950s and 60s. Using the public housing sector as the case study through which to explore these changes, this article shows how the increased emphasis upon consumer spending and consumer choice in this period not only resulted in heightened levels of consumption within the domestic sphere, but also fundamentally altered the shape and meaning of the council estate home.
In many histories of postwar Britain the 1940s have been presented as a period in which architect... more In many histories of postwar Britain the 1940s have been presented as a period in which architects and town planners became increasingly caught up in ‘utopian fantasies’ about how to go about rebuilding Britain’s bomb-damaged cities. Typically these narratives have applied the term ‘utopian’ in a fairly disparaging way; using it to emphasise the naivety and infeasibility of their plans for the future. This article attempts to tell a different story. Using the plans and proposals that were drawn up for the council estates of the future as the case studies through which to gain an insight into the mindset of this period, this article shows that although some of the ideas and proposals put forward may have been fairly ambitious they were not without ideological foundations and, as such, should be treated with more seriousness by historians.
Purpose - To evaluate the extent to which hubristic behaviour on the part of Thomas Farrow contri... more Purpose - To evaluate the extent to which hubristic behaviour on the part of Thomas Farrow contributed to the downfall of Farrow’s Bank in 1920.
Design/methodology/approach - The article traces the way in which Thomas Farrow’s behaviour changed over the course of his managerial career using primary sources obtained from various British archives, including: court records, witness statements, auditors’ reports, newspapers, journals, and personal letters. The article then evaluates Farrow’s actions in relation to the criteria outlined in Petit and Bollaert’s (2012) ‘Framework for Diagnosing CEO Hubris’ so as to assess how far he can be said to have become afflicted by managerial hubris.
Findings - All the collected evidence points to the conclusion that Thomas Farrow had, by the time of the Bank’s collapse in 1920, become afflicted by managerial hubris. This was reflected most clearly in the fact that he increasingly came to view himself as being somehow above and beyond the laws of the wider community. As a result, he felt little compunction about fraudulently writing-up the Bank’s assets so as to cover the huge losses that his reckless investments had produced.
Practical implications - The Farrow’s Bank episode confirms that the probability of management hubris materialising is enhanced when external control mechanisms are either lacking or inefficiently applied. On top of this, the amateurish organizational set-up of the Bank also suggests that the likelihood of hubris syndrome developing is enhanced when organisations themselves grant too much discretion to their leaders.
Originality/value - The paper breaks new ground by applying the latest management and psychology theories on the subject of leadership hubris to the field of financial management. Its value lies in the fact that it provides scholars and practitioners with an in-depth insight into how hubris syndrome can develop in organizational settings.
This paper looks at how the suburban ideals that were articulated and promoted by interwar politi... more This paper looks at how the suburban ideals that were articulated and promoted by interwar politicians and the popular press were interpreted and played out on England’s council estates. Focusing upon the domestic garden, it looks at how tenants tried to overcome material and cultural obstacles in their efforts to live up to these standards. Evidence is taken from a range of written, visual, and oral sources related to life on the Wythenshawe Estate, Manchester, and the Downham Estate, South-East London. Ultimately, this paper shows that, despite their best efforts, the residents of England’s interwar council estates were unable to achieve the much-publicised ‘suburban ideal.’
This paper expands on recent debates over the merits of online crowdfunding platforms (CFPs) by l... more This paper expands on recent debates over the merits of online crowdfunding platforms (CFPs) by looking at the extent to which these sorts of funding sites have the potential to contribute to the development of civic society ideals in Europe. In particular, it looks at how online CFPs and other peer-to-peer lending sites are beginning to alter the way in which charities and non-governmental organisations finance their activities. In addition, it also discusses how these sorts of investment platforms have the capacity to affect the way in which individual actors engage with one another at both the local and transnational level. Overall, then, what this paper shows is that, aside from their evident financial and economic benefits, CFPs also have the capacity to help foster and strengthen non-parliamentary democratic structures and practices. As such, they should be supported and encouraged as part of a framework of further European democratisation and civic integration.
Are bored workers more likely to commit fraudulent offences in the workplace? In this following a... more Are bored workers more likely to commit fraudulent offences in the workplace? In this following article, the author reveals how a lack of stimulation or want of productive engagement amongst an organization’s workforce can significantly increase the risk of financial fraud in the workplace. Given this relationship, the author continues, it would be advantageous if both CEOs and regulators paid greater attention to employees’ job-satisfaction levels.
This article looks in more depth at the different ways in which ideas about cashless societies we... more This article looks in more depth at the different ways in which ideas about cashless societies were articulated and explored in pre-1900 utopian literature. Taking examples from the works of key writers such as Thomas More, Robert Owen, William Morris and Edward Bellamy, it discusses the different ways in which the problems associated with conventional notes-and-coins monetary systems were tackled as well as looking at the proposals for alternative payment systems to take their place. Ultimately, what it shows is that although the desire to dispense with cash and find a more efficient and less-exploitable payment system is certainly nothing new, the practical problems associated with actually implementing such a system remain hugely challenging.
This article evaluates the inherent ambiguity of the landmark Park Hill housing estate in Sheffie... more This article evaluates the inherent ambiguity of the landmark Park Hill housing estate in Sheffield, England. Incorporating Foucault's theories on governmentality and biopolitics, this article explores how techniques of power and control radically affected the way this building was both used and viewed. It shows how conflicting discourses about human needs and desires influenced the way that subjects were housed, managed and regulated in Sheffield during the supposedly homogeneous welfare-state years.
The focus of this paper is on the potential challenges and opportunities that might emerge as a r... more The focus of this paper is on the potential challenges and opportunities that might emerge as a result of the continuing development and proliferation of so-called 3D printing technology. In particular, it is interested in looking at how society would cope if 3D printing (or some other form of comparable replicating technology) advanced to such a stage that it became possible to accurately and cheaply replicate any commodity or currency-form many times over. As many readers will no doubt be aware, these are issues that have gained increased traction in recent times, with countless articles and opinion-pieces having been printed on the so-called ‘3D printing revolution’ in the last couple of years. However, whilst the technology underpinning the latest cluster of 3D printers may be ground-breaking, the idea itself is far from new. Indeed, the concept of replicating technology actually has a fairly long intellectual history, with a number of past writers and thinkers having devoted a great deal of time to considering the effects that might result from the (potential) emergence of mass 3D printing capabilities. In this paper, the focus will be on one such text; namely, George O. Smith’s Venus Equilateral series (1942–1945). Looking both at the fictionalised replicating technologies outlined by Smith and the uses they were put to by his protagonists, this paper will offer a critical reading of Smith’s work, with a particular emphasis on his treatment of the 3D printing phenomenon. Likewise, it will also look at how Smith tried to incorporate the idea of mass replicating technology into a wider socio-economic framework, along with his attempts to produce working economic models based on this postulated mode of production. Ultimately, what it shows is that, whilst Smith’s fictionalised technologies may today seem farcically outdated, his reflections and insights on the potential social ruptures and cultural transformations that might unfold as a result of the emergence of mass replicating technology remain as pertinent and as relevant as ever.
This article seeks to explore and uncover the ideological and stylistic elements that typify the ... more This article seeks to explore and uncover the ideological and stylistic elements that typify the ways in which contemporary male and female lifestyle magazines present the world to the reader. Focusing on two of the most popular British examples – FHM and Red – it analyses the language used, the images portrayed, as well as the structures of the two texts. Throughout it engages with the burgeoning literature on utopianism, and in particular with the ‘utopic’ approaches advocated by theorists such as Louis Marin and Frederic Jameson, in order to trace the common tropes and rules that run throughout both male and female lifestyle magazines. Finally, in light of these findings, it asks what role these texts play in contemporary culture and society.
Recent theoretical developments in the historical field have led historians increasingly to use t... more Recent theoretical developments in the historical field have led historians increasingly to use the 'personal' in historical scholarship. This essay explores one manifestation of this new turn, the autobiographical introduction, to consider how and why historians have decided to become more prominent in the texts they produce. Using a range of examples from various historical fields, this essay argues that autobiographical performances produce an illusion of subjectivity but can never fully allow the 'complete' historian to intrude into the text. I consider how these introductions function in historical scholarship, analysing in particular how autobiographical acts can provide a forum for marginalized groups to gain a voice in academia, before considering what future the autobiographical introduction has in historical scholarship.
As more and more of our brave academics crumble before the powerful and frightening new intellect... more As more and more of our brave academics crumble before the powerful and frightening new intellectual movements that are sweeping through the historical galaxy, we look to the stars in desperation and ask: is there to be any future for our discipline? In a last desperate attempt to stave off total annihilation I have turned to a little-known band of science-fiction writers to ask for their assistance. The following report lays out some of the key points they made. Read it, take it on board, and utilise it is as you venture out into the unknown brave historian; and may the force always be with you!
This article contributes to our understanding of East-West relations during the Cold War by looki... more This article contributes to our understanding of East-West relations during the Cold War by looking at a previously under-examined factor – the self. Focusing on the autobiographies of three former Communist’s, this article argues that we need to pay more attention to competing understandings of selfhood. Taking evidence from both published texts and previously classified government files, it shows how these author’s autobiographies played a key role in Britain’s anti-communist propaganda effort. Finally, this paper demonstrates the manifold ways that individuals negotiated with, and contributed to, these competing discourses about selfhood when trying to make sense of their own existence during these turbulent times.
What are the long-term causes and consequences of the global financial crisis of 2007–2008? This ... more What are the long-term causes and consequences of the global financial crisis of 2007–2008? This book offers a fresh perspective on these issues by bringing together a range of academics from law, history, economics and business to look in more depth at the changing relationships between crises and complexity in the US and UK financial markets.
Since the turn of the millennium, the British media has been awash with stories of bankers and fi... more Since the turn of the millennium, the British media has been awash with stories of bankers and financiers caught engaging in acts of corporate wrongdoing and financial skullduggery. But just how different are these crimes to those committed in the past? And, is the threat of financial fraud greater today than in bygone years?
In this book, Matthew Hollow begins answering these questions by providing an in-depth historical overview of some of the most significant frauds that took place in the British financial sector between 1919 and 1939. Using extensive archival evidence, he reveals the variety of tactics that were employed by interwar fraudsters to conceal their underhand transactions and dupe the British public into handing over their money.
Between 1920 and 1970 the British Government oversaw a nationwide housebuilding programme that wa... more Between 1920 and 1970 the British Government oversaw a nationwide housebuilding programme that was unprecedented in terms of both scale and cost. This book re-evaluates this housebuilding programme, focusing in particular on how those involved in the provision of public housing in England conceived of the people who they were providing houses for. Using a wide-range of sources from archives in London, Manchester and Sheffield, it uncovers and traces the changing ways in which the figure of the prospective tenant was conceptualized and acted upon — demonstrating how ideas about what people needed from a home changed dramatically over the course of this period. As such, this book not only adds substantially to our understanding of the changes that took place in the public housing sector in England between 1920 and 1970, but also contributes to and problematizes the way in which we approach issues relating to public housing provision in the future.
ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Recently, Early Warning Signals (EWS) have been developed to predict tipping... more ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Recently, Early Warning Signals (EWS) have been developed to predict tipping points in Earth Systems. This discussion highlights the potential to apply EWS to human social and economic systems, which may also undergo similar critical transitions. Social tipping points are particularly difficult to predict, however, and the current formulation of EWS, based on a physical system analogy, may be insufficient. As an alternative set of EWS for social systems, we join with other authors encouraging a focus on heterogeneity, connectivity through social networks and individual thresholds to change.
This article looks at the key factors behind the failure of the Birkbeck Bank in 1911. Using a wi... more This article looks at the key factors behind the failure of the Birkbeck Bank in 1911. Using a wide range of primary source material, it charts how the Bank emerged from its philanthropic roots as a mutual building society in the 1870s to go on and enjoy spectacular growth during the late nineteenth century before eventually faltering and failing in the early twentieth century. Throughout the analysis, particular attention is given to the investment decisions taken by the Bank’s management and the impact that these had on the Bank’s fortunes. In addition, the article also looks at the extent to which the Birkbeck Bank’s overall business model differed from those of other banks in this period. Ultimately, what it shows is that the Bank’s failure to modify its investment strategy quickly enough in response to changing market conditions — most notably the fall in the value of Consols and other gilt-edged securities — proved to be the decisive factor in its eventual collapse. For this reason, the article contends, it is appropriate to categorise the 1911 Birkbeck Bank failure as one caused by strategic inertia rather than excessive risk-taking.
Historians and sociologists have long had a fascination with the idea of the postwar British ‘aff... more Historians and sociologists have long had a fascination with the idea of the postwar British ‘affluent society’. Yet, up until now, most work in this area has been centred upon developments within the private and commercial sectors of the British economy. What this article shows is that rising levels of affluence, and the subsequent emergence of mass consumerism, also had quite profound effects upon the British public sector during the 1950s and 60s. Using the public housing sector as the case study through which to explore these changes, this article shows how the increased emphasis upon consumer spending and consumer choice in this period not only resulted in heightened levels of consumption within the domestic sphere, but also fundamentally altered the shape and meaning of the council estate home.
In many histories of postwar Britain the 1940s have been presented as a period in which architect... more In many histories of postwar Britain the 1940s have been presented as a period in which architects and town planners became increasingly caught up in ‘utopian fantasies’ about how to go about rebuilding Britain’s bomb-damaged cities. Typically these narratives have applied the term ‘utopian’ in a fairly disparaging way; using it to emphasise the naivety and infeasibility of their plans for the future. This article attempts to tell a different story. Using the plans and proposals that were drawn up for the council estates of the future as the case studies through which to gain an insight into the mindset of this period, this article shows that although some of the ideas and proposals put forward may have been fairly ambitious they were not without ideological foundations and, as such, should be treated with more seriousness by historians.
Purpose - To evaluate the extent to which hubristic behaviour on the part of Thomas Farrow contri... more Purpose - To evaluate the extent to which hubristic behaviour on the part of Thomas Farrow contributed to the downfall of Farrow’s Bank in 1920.
Design/methodology/approach - The article traces the way in which Thomas Farrow’s behaviour changed over the course of his managerial career using primary sources obtained from various British archives, including: court records, witness statements, auditors’ reports, newspapers, journals, and personal letters. The article then evaluates Farrow’s actions in relation to the criteria outlined in Petit and Bollaert’s (2012) ‘Framework for Diagnosing CEO Hubris’ so as to assess how far he can be said to have become afflicted by managerial hubris.
Findings - All the collected evidence points to the conclusion that Thomas Farrow had, by the time of the Bank’s collapse in 1920, become afflicted by managerial hubris. This was reflected most clearly in the fact that he increasingly came to view himself as being somehow above and beyond the laws of the wider community. As a result, he felt little compunction about fraudulently writing-up the Bank’s assets so as to cover the huge losses that his reckless investments had produced.
Practical implications - The Farrow’s Bank episode confirms that the probability of management hubris materialising is enhanced when external control mechanisms are either lacking or inefficiently applied. On top of this, the amateurish organizational set-up of the Bank also suggests that the likelihood of hubris syndrome developing is enhanced when organisations themselves grant too much discretion to their leaders.
Originality/value - The paper breaks new ground by applying the latest management and psychology theories on the subject of leadership hubris to the field of financial management. Its value lies in the fact that it provides scholars and practitioners with an in-depth insight into how hubris syndrome can develop in organizational settings.
This paper looks at how the suburban ideals that were articulated and promoted by interwar politi... more This paper looks at how the suburban ideals that were articulated and promoted by interwar politicians and the popular press were interpreted and played out on England’s council estates. Focusing upon the domestic garden, it looks at how tenants tried to overcome material and cultural obstacles in their efforts to live up to these standards. Evidence is taken from a range of written, visual, and oral sources related to life on the Wythenshawe Estate, Manchester, and the Downham Estate, South-East London. Ultimately, this paper shows that, despite their best efforts, the residents of England’s interwar council estates were unable to achieve the much-publicised ‘suburban ideal.’
This paper expands on recent debates over the merits of online crowdfunding platforms (CFPs) by l... more This paper expands on recent debates over the merits of online crowdfunding platforms (CFPs) by looking at the extent to which these sorts of funding sites have the potential to contribute to the development of civic society ideals in Europe. In particular, it looks at how online CFPs and other peer-to-peer lending sites are beginning to alter the way in which charities and non-governmental organisations finance their activities. In addition, it also discusses how these sorts of investment platforms have the capacity to affect the way in which individual actors engage with one another at both the local and transnational level. Overall, then, what this paper shows is that, aside from their evident financial and economic benefits, CFPs also have the capacity to help foster and strengthen non-parliamentary democratic structures and practices. As such, they should be supported and encouraged as part of a framework of further European democratisation and civic integration.
Are bored workers more likely to commit fraudulent offences in the workplace? In this following a... more Are bored workers more likely to commit fraudulent offences in the workplace? In this following article, the author reveals how a lack of stimulation or want of productive engagement amongst an organization’s workforce can significantly increase the risk of financial fraud in the workplace. Given this relationship, the author continues, it would be advantageous if both CEOs and regulators paid greater attention to employees’ job-satisfaction levels.
This article looks in more depth at the different ways in which ideas about cashless societies we... more This article looks in more depth at the different ways in which ideas about cashless societies were articulated and explored in pre-1900 utopian literature. Taking examples from the works of key writers such as Thomas More, Robert Owen, William Morris and Edward Bellamy, it discusses the different ways in which the problems associated with conventional notes-and-coins monetary systems were tackled as well as looking at the proposals for alternative payment systems to take their place. Ultimately, what it shows is that although the desire to dispense with cash and find a more efficient and less-exploitable payment system is certainly nothing new, the practical problems associated with actually implementing such a system remain hugely challenging.
This article evaluates the inherent ambiguity of the landmark Park Hill housing estate in Sheffie... more This article evaluates the inherent ambiguity of the landmark Park Hill housing estate in Sheffield, England. Incorporating Foucault's theories on governmentality and biopolitics, this article explores how techniques of power and control radically affected the way this building was both used and viewed. It shows how conflicting discourses about human needs and desires influenced the way that subjects were housed, managed and regulated in Sheffield during the supposedly homogeneous welfare-state years.
The focus of this paper is on the potential challenges and opportunities that might emerge as a r... more The focus of this paper is on the potential challenges and opportunities that might emerge as a result of the continuing development and proliferation of so-called 3D printing technology. In particular, it is interested in looking at how society would cope if 3D printing (or some other form of comparable replicating technology) advanced to such a stage that it became possible to accurately and cheaply replicate any commodity or currency-form many times over. As many readers will no doubt be aware, these are issues that have gained increased traction in recent times, with countless articles and opinion-pieces having been printed on the so-called ‘3D printing revolution’ in the last couple of years. However, whilst the technology underpinning the latest cluster of 3D printers may be ground-breaking, the idea itself is far from new. Indeed, the concept of replicating technology actually has a fairly long intellectual history, with a number of past writers and thinkers having devoted a great deal of time to considering the effects that might result from the (potential) emergence of mass 3D printing capabilities. In this paper, the focus will be on one such text; namely, George O. Smith’s Venus Equilateral series (1942–1945). Looking both at the fictionalised replicating technologies outlined by Smith and the uses they were put to by his protagonists, this paper will offer a critical reading of Smith’s work, with a particular emphasis on his treatment of the 3D printing phenomenon. Likewise, it will also look at how Smith tried to incorporate the idea of mass replicating technology into a wider socio-economic framework, along with his attempts to produce working economic models based on this postulated mode of production. Ultimately, what it shows is that, whilst Smith’s fictionalised technologies may today seem farcically outdated, his reflections and insights on the potential social ruptures and cultural transformations that might unfold as a result of the emergence of mass replicating technology remain as pertinent and as relevant as ever.
This article seeks to explore and uncover the ideological and stylistic elements that typify the ... more This article seeks to explore and uncover the ideological and stylistic elements that typify the ways in which contemporary male and female lifestyle magazines present the world to the reader. Focusing on two of the most popular British examples – FHM and Red – it analyses the language used, the images portrayed, as well as the structures of the two texts. Throughout it engages with the burgeoning literature on utopianism, and in particular with the ‘utopic’ approaches advocated by theorists such as Louis Marin and Frederic Jameson, in order to trace the common tropes and rules that run throughout both male and female lifestyle magazines. Finally, in light of these findings, it asks what role these texts play in contemporary culture and society.
Recent theoretical developments in the historical field have led historians increasingly to use t... more Recent theoretical developments in the historical field have led historians increasingly to use the 'personal' in historical scholarship. This essay explores one manifestation of this new turn, the autobiographical introduction, to consider how and why historians have decided to become more prominent in the texts they produce. Using a range of examples from various historical fields, this essay argues that autobiographical performances produce an illusion of subjectivity but can never fully allow the 'complete' historian to intrude into the text. I consider how these introductions function in historical scholarship, analysing in particular how autobiographical acts can provide a forum for marginalized groups to gain a voice in academia, before considering what future the autobiographical introduction has in historical scholarship.
As more and more of our brave academics crumble before the powerful and frightening new intellect... more As more and more of our brave academics crumble before the powerful and frightening new intellectual movements that are sweeping through the historical galaxy, we look to the stars in desperation and ask: is there to be any future for our discipline? In a last desperate attempt to stave off total annihilation I have turned to a little-known band of science-fiction writers to ask for their assistance. The following report lays out some of the key points they made. Read it, take it on board, and utilise it is as you venture out into the unknown brave historian; and may the force always be with you!
This article contributes to our understanding of East-West relations during the Cold War by looki... more This article contributes to our understanding of East-West relations during the Cold War by looking at a previously under-examined factor – the self. Focusing on the autobiographies of three former Communist’s, this article argues that we need to pay more attention to competing understandings of selfhood. Taking evidence from both published texts and previously classified government files, it shows how these author’s autobiographies played a key role in Britain’s anti-communist propaganda effort. Finally, this paper demonstrates the manifold ways that individuals negotiated with, and contributed to, these competing discourses about selfhood when trying to make sense of their own existence during these turbulent times.
What are the long-term causes and consequences of the global financial crisis of 2007–2008? This ... more What are the long-term causes and consequences of the global financial crisis of 2007–2008? This book offers a fresh perspective on these issues by bringing together a range of academics from law, history, economics and business to look in more depth at the changing relationships between crises and complexity in the US and UK financial markets.
Since the turn of the millennium, the British media has been awash with stories of bankers and fi... more Since the turn of the millennium, the British media has been awash with stories of bankers and financiers caught engaging in acts of corporate wrongdoing and financial skullduggery. But just how different are these crimes to those committed in the past? And, is the threat of financial fraud greater today than in bygone years?
In this book, Matthew Hollow begins answering these questions by providing an in-depth historical overview of some of the most significant frauds that took place in the British financial sector between 1919 and 1939. Using extensive archival evidence, he reveals the variety of tactics that were employed by interwar fraudsters to conceal their underhand transactions and dupe the British public into handing over their money.
Between 1920 and 1970 the British Government oversaw a nationwide housebuilding programme that wa... more Between 1920 and 1970 the British Government oversaw a nationwide housebuilding programme that was unprecedented in terms of both scale and cost. This book re-evaluates this housebuilding programme, focusing in particular on how those involved in the provision of public housing in England conceived of the people who they were providing houses for. Using a wide-range of sources from archives in London, Manchester and Sheffield, it uncovers and traces the changing ways in which the figure of the prospective tenant was conceptualized and acted upon — demonstrating how ideas about what people needed from a home changed dramatically over the course of this period. As such, this book not only adds substantially to our understanding of the changes that took place in the public housing sector in England between 1920 and 1970, but also contributes to and problematizes the way in which we approach issues relating to public housing provision in the future.
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Design/methodology/approach - The article traces the way in which Thomas Farrow’s behaviour changed over the course of his managerial career using primary sources obtained from various British archives, including: court records, witness statements, auditors’ reports, newspapers, journals, and personal letters. The article then evaluates Farrow’s actions in relation to the criteria outlined in Petit and Bollaert’s (2012) ‘Framework for Diagnosing CEO Hubris’ so as to assess how far he can be said to have become afflicted by managerial hubris.
Findings - All the collected evidence points to the conclusion that Thomas Farrow had, by the time of the Bank’s collapse in 1920, become afflicted by managerial hubris. This was reflected most clearly in the fact that he increasingly came to view himself as being somehow above and beyond the laws of the wider community. As a result, he felt little compunction about fraudulently writing-up the Bank’s assets so as to cover the huge losses that his reckless investments had produced.
Practical implications - The Farrow’s Bank episode confirms that the probability of management hubris materialising is enhanced when external control mechanisms are either lacking or inefficiently applied. On top of this, the amateurish organizational set-up of the Bank also suggests that the likelihood of hubris syndrome developing is enhanced when organisations themselves grant too much discretion to their leaders.
Originality/value - The paper breaks new ground by applying the latest management and psychology theories on the subject of leadership hubris to the field of financial management. Its value lies in the fact that it provides scholars and practitioners with an in-depth insight into how hubris syndrome can develop in organizational settings.
In this book, Matthew Hollow begins answering these questions by providing an in-depth historical overview of some of the most significant frauds that took place in the British financial sector between 1919 and 1939. Using extensive archival evidence, he reveals the variety of tactics that were employed by interwar fraudsters to conceal their underhand transactions and dupe the British public into handing over their money.
Design/methodology/approach - The article traces the way in which Thomas Farrow’s behaviour changed over the course of his managerial career using primary sources obtained from various British archives, including: court records, witness statements, auditors’ reports, newspapers, journals, and personal letters. The article then evaluates Farrow’s actions in relation to the criteria outlined in Petit and Bollaert’s (2012) ‘Framework for Diagnosing CEO Hubris’ so as to assess how far he can be said to have become afflicted by managerial hubris.
Findings - All the collected evidence points to the conclusion that Thomas Farrow had, by the time of the Bank’s collapse in 1920, become afflicted by managerial hubris. This was reflected most clearly in the fact that he increasingly came to view himself as being somehow above and beyond the laws of the wider community. As a result, he felt little compunction about fraudulently writing-up the Bank’s assets so as to cover the huge losses that his reckless investments had produced.
Practical implications - The Farrow’s Bank episode confirms that the probability of management hubris materialising is enhanced when external control mechanisms are either lacking or inefficiently applied. On top of this, the amateurish organizational set-up of the Bank also suggests that the likelihood of hubris syndrome developing is enhanced when organisations themselves grant too much discretion to their leaders.
Originality/value - The paper breaks new ground by applying the latest management and psychology theories on the subject of leadership hubris to the field of financial management. Its value lies in the fact that it provides scholars and practitioners with an in-depth insight into how hubris syndrome can develop in organizational settings.
In this book, Matthew Hollow begins answering these questions by providing an in-depth historical overview of some of the most significant frauds that took place in the British financial sector between 1919 and 1939. Using extensive archival evidence, he reveals the variety of tactics that were employed by interwar fraudsters to conceal their underhand transactions and dupe the British public into handing over their money.