Evening star., 1941-05-19
Commerce Officials
To Study Postwar
Economic Problems
Aim Is to Help Business
In U. S. Shift Back
To Peace Status
BY OLIVER MCKEE.

A comprehensive study of the
problems of economic readjustment
that will face the United States
after the war soon will be initiated
by the Commerce Department., it
has been learned. On its compile
ton, department experts will sub
NIT to Secretary Jones recommen-
dations to help American business
shift from q war to a peace econ
omy.
Department officials do not esti-
mate the probable duration of the
war, but they believe plans should
be prepared as soon as possible for
dealing with its economic after
math. Before such plans can be
prepared intelligently, even in blue
print form, 1t is essential that the
problems be analyzed and clearly
understood. they point out.
The recent reorganization of the
Bureau of Foreign and Domestic
Commerce provided for setting up
q national economic unit. One of
its jobs will be study of the ques-
ton of domestic postwar economic
readjustments.
Carroll L. Wilson, director of the
bureau. is looking for experts for the
unit. The staff will be carefully
selected and will probably include
several college professors, it was in
dicated yesterday.
To Study Buying Habits.
Before drafting recommendations
for dealing with postwar problems,
this unit will appraise the changes
caused by the present emergency IN
our national economy. Specifically.
1t will analyze current shifts In the
buying habits Of the American peo-
pie, dislocations of industry. the
concentration of labor supply in the
areas of defense production, the re-
lationship of defense spending to ma
tional income and employment, and
the effect of war changes in export
trade on industrial production.
The Census Bureau is expected
TO provide large part OF the basic
statistics for the analysis OF the
changes in national economy caused
by the defense program. Depart
ment economists will synthesize and
interpret these statistics.
Under present plans, business
schools in universities will be asked
to contribute to the survey by ap-
praising the effect of rearmament on
the pattern of regional economy.
Every effort will be made to secure
as complete a picture as possible
of the alterations in our economy,
In all parts of the country, since
the start of the defense program.
World Changes Expected.
DR.. Amos E. Taylor of the division
Of international economy will direct
the international studies. The in
tial step will be an analysis of the
international economic and financial
position of the United States and
the effect of the war on that posi-
ton.
Although postwar international
economic questions will depend in
large part on the outcome of the
present struggle. department ex-
perts believe many changes in the
world economic order are inevitable.
even if the Axis is beaten. They will
outline the problems which the
United States would face, in inter-
national trade, for various possible
postwar situations.
Whatever the outcome of the war,
Europe will emerge from the present
conflict economically weakened, they
point out. For years to come, many
European countries will have low
er living standards and will thus
be able, through lower labor costs,
to produce goods for export more
cheaply than at present. The ques-
tion of tariffs, therefore, looms as
one Of the major questions that will
face the United States In formu-
lating its international economic
policies after the war,