Whatever may have been the merits of the gold standard in die nineteenth century, it has not proved a satisfactory system of exchange since 1913. The decentralization of the world financial system, the greater liquidity of the public's holdings, and the appearance of capital movements unrelated to movements of trade have rendered abortive attempts to return permanently to the gold standard. In any event, the unwillingness of governments, increasingly dependent on the favor of the lower income groups, to allow or compel the contraction of domestic credit in response to changes in international demand prevented the operation of a system that depends on such adjustments. But the gold standard of die nineteendi century cast a long shadow behind it.

The economic historian's concern with the changing institutions and processes of economic activity currently takes on added relevance in connection with world-wide interest in economic growth. Plans and programs for rapid industrialization abound, especially in economically underdeveloped areas. In this context, the example of Soviet industrialization, mysterious in its contours and awesome in its results, has attracted increasing scholarly attention.

J. van der Poel has just published The History of Netherlands' Revenue Stamps, 1624–1954. Mr. van der Poel is the director of the Netherlands Administration of Direct Taxes, Fees, and Excise and the Director of Netherlands' Tax Academy (Rijksbelastingsacademie) in Rotterdam, a civil service university for the highest grades of the Dutch fiscal service.

Iam Going to talk about historical comparison along a time axis in connection with the problem of a new framework for social history. Lest I be thought to aim at heights of egomania never before scaled, let me hastily add, however, that the full title of my remarks would not be “Comparison along the Time Axis: A New Framework for Social History! Come and get It!” It might rather be “Comparison along the Time Axis: A New Framework for Social History? Can Anything be Done with It?”