Corporatization of Paper Manufacturing

This chapter explores the development of the Dutch paper industry in the phase of Fordism between 1914 and 1980. Following periods of economic downturn and uncertainty brought about by the First and Second World Wars, there was a concerted effort towards state-led restructuring and consolidation to rejuvenate national industries. During Fordism, cartel structures emerged as crucial forms of cooperation, while corporatization and mergers and acquisitions became tools for industry consolidation. The 1950s and 1960s witnessed a significant rise in unionism, but the economic downturns of the 1970s led to its rapid decline. Notably, in this era, waste paper emerged as a profitable substitute for virgin wood fiber in Dutch paper production.