New academic study praises growth of real ale industry.
19 July 2010
By Jon Howard
CAMRA is today delighted to read of a report revealing how Britain's beer drinkers can serve as role models for the nation as it struggles to emerge from recession.
The academic study, released by experts at the Nottingham University Business School, came up with the findings after examining the history of brewing in England.
The study praises CAMRA for its work in campaigning for quality and choice in the UK beer market, and underlines the impact of an expanding sub culture of beer drinkers with a strong interest in quality and choice.
More widely, the study believes the beer industry's rebirth in the wake of CAMRA's founding in 1971 has implications for much of the UK economy.
Professor Peter Swann, the author of the study, and a Professor of Industrial Economics, said:
"The fact is that the business world can learn an enormous amount from our beer buffs.
"The range of products and the number of centres of production in brewing in England declined dramatically between 1900 and 1970.
"As is widely accepted, that process began to reverse with the formation of CAMRA and its fight against bland, mass-produced beers.
"This has led us to the position we're in now, with hundreds of small breweries spread all over the country and making thousands of different beers.
"In technical terms, this represents horizontal product differentiation and a reduction in the importance of the economies of scale.
"That's basically a clever way of saying variety is the spice of life and that more discerning tastes can be good for the economy."
In conclusion of the study, Swann said:
"CAMRA and the microbreweries should serve as an economic inspiration - and I say that as a man who doesn't even like beer."
Read the full report