A history of small business in America / Mansel G. Blackford.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Blackford, Mansel G., 1944-

Series:

Luther Hartwell Hodges series on business, society, and the state

The Luther Hartwell Hodges series on business, society, and the state

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Small business--United States--History.

Small business.

Small business--Government policy--United States--History.

Small business--Government policy.

History.

United States.

Physical Description:

xii, 216 pages ; 25 cm.

Edition:

Second edition.

Place of Publication:

Chapel Hill : University of North Carolina Press, [2003]

Summary:

From the colonial era to the present day, small businesses have been an integral part of American life. First published in 1991 and now thoroughly revised and updated, A History of Small Business in America explores the central but ever-changing role played by small enterprises in the nation's economic, political, and cultural development. Examining small businesses in manufacturing, sales, services, and farming, Mansel Blackford argues that while small firms have always been important to the nation's development, their significance has varied considerably in different time periods and in different segments of our economy. Throughout, he relates small business development to changes in America's overall business and economic systems and offers comparisons between the growth of small business in the United States and its development in other countries. He places special emphasis on the importance of small business development for women and minorities. Unique in its breadth, this book provides the only comprehensive overview of these significant topics.

Contents:

1. Small Business before 1880 11

2. Small Business in the Age of Giant Enterprise, 1880-1920 43

3. Industrial Districts and Stand-Alone Companies 81

4. Small Business in Boom and Bust, 1921-1945 91

5. Specialty Products and Niche Markets 119

6. Small Business in an Expanding Economy, 1946-1971 131

7. Small Firms in the Silicon Valley 157

8. Small Business in Modern America, 1972-2000 165

9. Independent Bookstores in a Time of Consolidation 183.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

0807827800

0807854530

OCLC:

50737012