Title: Class, collusion and competition: neglected elements in the divergent patterns of business development and rise of large-scale retailing in the USA and Britain, 1880–1950s

Authors: Carlo Morelli

Addresses: Department of Economic Studies, University of Dundee, Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN, UK

Abstract: This paper uses the divergent patterns of large-scale retailing in the USA and Britain to explore the limitations of the conventional view of the rise of large-scale organisations in terms of the role of market forces, the visible hand of management and the work of Chandler and Williamson. Their analysis pays insufficient attention to the role of legal frameworks, state regulation, the relationship of market power and collusion and the role of class structures.

Keywords: Chandler; Williamson; business organisation; collusion; competition policy; visible management; business development; large-scale retailing; USA, United States; UK; United Kingdom; Britain; market forces; legal frameworks; state regulation; market power; class structures; historical development.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMCP.2007.015128

International Journal of Management Concepts and Philosophy, 2007 Vol.2 No.4, pp.317 - 336

Published online: 18 Sep 2007 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article