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The diffusion and impact of the corporation in 1910

Author

Listed:
  • James Foreman-Peck

    (Cardiff University)

  • Leslie Hannah

    (University of Tokyo)

Abstract

"With new and comprehensive data on the international spread of both listed and unlisted companies/corporations before the First World War this paper shows that common and Scandinavian civil law countries dominated the process. Official religious adherence and political regime – with the exception of membership of the British Empire - independently contributed little. Despite the possibilities they created for fraud and exploitation companies raised productivity. These conclusions generate another; that the British Empire, as a vehicle for the spread of common law where companies were concerned, on balance raised GDP per head for subject colonies as well as for dominions, compared with a French civil law regime and a fortiori with non-European corporate regulation."

Suggested Citation

  • James Foreman-Peck & Leslie Hannah, 2013. "The diffusion and impact of the corporation in 1910," Working Papers 13007, Economic History Society.
    • Handle: RePEc:ehs:wpaper:13007
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Blanche Segrestin & Andrew Johnston & Armand Hatchuel, 2019. "The Separation Of Directors And Managers: A Historical Examination Of The Status Of Managers," Post-Print hal-01957329, HAL.
    2. Hannah, Leslie & Kasuya, Makoto, 2015. "Twentieth century enterprise forms: Japan in comparative perspective," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 64489, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.

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    • N00 - Economic History - - General - - - General

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