Management and Business in Britain and France : The Age of the Corporate Economy

The first comparison of economic and business development in Britain and France in the 19th and 20th centuries which looks in particular detail at three main issues: the family firm, education and training, and mergers and survivals. As interest grows in comparative European business practices, this book offers an instructive historical perspective.

For generations, the uneasy relationship between Britain and France has captured the popular and scholarly imagination. Comparative studies between the two countries abound, from political systems to eating habits: hitherto they have not extended to business history.There is now growing interest in comparative business systems, practices, and performance. In these areas comparison with America, Germany, or Japan have taken precedence. This volume, with contributions from leading British and French experts, explores comparative developments and trends in the two countries which for so long were the guiding lights of Europe and the world. In particular it looks at three main dimensions - the family firm; education and training; and mergers and company structure.With a mixture of case-studies, sectoral analysis, and wider-ranging comparison, the book will be a useful addition to an understanding of the evolution of business organization, competitivness, and performance.