A theoretical approach to the large-scale dynamics of local government is derived from Marxian political economy. This is then probed and developed by reference to the history of local authority intervention in the sphere of production over the last 100 years. The historical evidence reveals a pattern of periodic change in the stance of local government towards the local enonomy, a pattern that is broadly correlated with the main phases of economic change which have occurred since 1880. This observation is consistent with the theoretical position indicated at the outset, and supports the view that progress towards a macroscopic theory of local government will depend upon the continued investigation of the long march of local history.
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