lemon socialism (1974)

[Benjamin Zimmer]

The term "lemon socialism" is being revived by critics of the various
financial bailout plans. I've seen indications that this is of British
provenance, but I don't see any early cites for it in the Guardian or
(UK) Times archives. Here's the earliest I find on Proquest, in an
opinion piece by Mark Green:

1974 _New York Times_ 26 May (Week in Review) 5/5 Critics fear that a
rush to public ownership may bring a form of "lemon socialism" --
where the government, as in England, takes over failing companies but
not healthy ones.

Anything earlier in UK sources?


--Ben Zimmer

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