C Northcote Parkinson wrote more books on how economics works. They're well worth reading.

https://www.amazon.com/Parkinsons-Law-C-Northcote-Parkinson/...

https://www.amazon.com/Law-Profits-Cyril-Northcote-Parkinson...

In-Laws & Outlaws (not on Amazon)

C Northcote Parkinson, in "The Law and the Profits", pegs the turning point for Britain was 1909, when the taxation and socialist welfare state emerged.

https://www.amazon.com/Law-Profits-Cyril-Northcote-Parkinson...