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The Facts About Small Business and the Real Values of Its ‘Life World’: A Social Philosophical Interpretation of This Sector of the Modem Economy

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  • Bart Nooteboom

Abstract

. According to a line of European social philosophers from Marx to Habermas, the development of society is characterized by a process of rationalization, accompanied by alienation and objectification of labor and human relations, and more generally a degradation of what Jürgen Habermashas called the person's “life world.” But the facts about small and medium sized business, as disclosed by empirical investigation, offer a different picture, one of small and medium size enterprises (SME) with a number of attributes associated with social organization on a small scale, of e.g., personality and independence. These can provide a counterweight to its disadvantages and limitations and therefore can be seen as values from a social philosophical point of view. Economically the same attributes make SME vulnerable to the market power and competition of big business. The new technology offers threats to SME, but also opportunities.

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  • Bart Nooteboom, 1988. "The Facts About Small Business and the Real Values of Its ‘Life World’: A Social Philosophical Interpretation of This Sector of the Modem Economy," American Journal of Economics and Sociology, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 47(3), pages 299-314, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:ajecsc:v:47:y:1988:i:3:p:299-314
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1536-7150.1988.tb02043.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Nooteboom, Bart, 1982. "A new theory of retailing costs," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 17(2), pages 163-186.
    2. Latsis,, 1980. "Method and Appraisal in Economics," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521280501.
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