The Age of Entrepreneurship: Business Proprietors, Self-employment and Corporations Since 1851 (Routledge International Studies in Business History)

This landmark research volume provides the first detailed history of entrepreneurship in Britain from the nineteenth century to the present. Using a remarkable new database of more than nine million entrepreneurs, it gives new understanding to the development of Britain as the world's ‘first industrial nation'.Based on the first long-term whole-population analysis of British small business, it uses novel methods to identify from the 10-yearly population census the two to four million people per year who operated businesses in the period 1851–1911. Using big data analytics, it reveals how British businesses evolved over time, supplementing the census-derived data on individuals with other sources on companies and business histories. By comparing to modern data, it reveals how the late-Victorian period was a ‘golden age'for smaller and medium-sized business, driven by family firms, the accelerating participation of women and the increasing use of incorporation as significant vehicles for development. A unique resource and citation for future research on entrepreneurship, of crucial significance to economic development policies for small business around the world, and above all the key entry point for researchers to the database which is deposited at the UK Data Archive, this major publication will change our understanding of the scale and economic significance of small businesses in the nineteenth century. This landmark research volume provides the first detailed history of entrepreneurship in Britain from the nineteenth century to the present. Using a remarkable new database of more than nine million entrepreneurs, it gives new understanding to the development of Britain as the world’s ‘first industrial nation’. Based on the first long-term whole-population analysis of British small business, it uses novel methods to identify from the 10-yearly population census the two to four million people per year who operated businesses in the period 1851–1911. Using big data analytics, it reveals how British businesses evolved over time, supplementing the census-derived data on individuals with other sources on companies and business histories. By comparing to modern data, it reveals how the late-Victorian period was a ‘golden age’ for smaller and medium-sized businesses, driven by family firms, the accelerating participation of women and the increasing use of incorporation as a significant vehicle for development. A unique resource and citation for future research on entrepreneurship, of crucial significance to economic development policies for small businesses around the world, and above all the key entry point for researchers to the database which is deposited at the UK Data Archive, this major publication will change our understanding of the scale and economic significance of small businesses in the nineteenth century. Cover 1 Half Title 2 Series Page 3 Title 4 Copyright 5 Contents 6 Foreword 8 Acknowledgements 12 PART 1 New methods to interpret historical trends 14 1 Entrepreneurship over time 16 2 Entrepreneurship in theory and historical practice 38 3 New insights from historical big data 69 PART 2 Overview of trends 96 4 Proprietor numbers, aggregate trends and sector change 98 5 Business size and organisation 123 PART 3 Understanding entrepreneurship at the individual level 150 6 Explaining entrepreneurship: correlates and decision choices 152 7 Demography, the household and entrepreneurship 174 8 Gender 205 9 The geography of entrepreneurship 231 10 Migration 266 11 Portfolio businesses 292 12 Conclusion: re-positioning the entrepreneur in history and the present day 319 References 327 Index 352 « This landmark research volume provides the first detailed history of entrepreneurship in Britain from the nineteenth century to the present. Using a remarkable new database of more thannine million entrepreneurs, it gives new understanding to the development of Britain as the world's first industrial nation'. Based on the first long-term whole-population analysis of British small business, it uses novel methods to identify from the 10-yearly population census thetwo to fourmillion people per year who operated businesses in the period 1851-1911. Using big data analytics, it reveals how British businesses evolved over time, supplementing the census-derived data on individuals with other sources on companies and business histories. By comparing to modern data, it reveals how the late-Victorian period was a golden age' for smaller and medium-sized business, driven by family firms, the accelerating participation of women and the increasing use of incorporation as significant vehicles for development. A unique resource and citation for future research on entrepreneurship, of crucial significance to economic development policies for small business around the world, and above all the key entry point for researchers to the database which is deposited at the UK Data Archive, this major publication will change our understanding of the scale and economic significance of small businesses in the nineteenth century. »-- Résumé de l'éditeur "This landmark research volume provides the first detailed history of entrepreneurship in Britain from the nineteenth century to the present. Using a remarkable new database of more than 9 million entrepreneurs, it gives new understanding to the development of Britain as the world's "first industrial nation". Based on the first long-term whole-population analysis of British small business, it uses novel methods to identify from the 10-yearly population census the 2-4 million people per year who operated businesses in the period 1851-1911. Using big data analytics, it reveals how British businesses evolved over time, supplementing the census-derived data on individuals with other sources on companies and business histories. By comparing to modern data, it reveals how the late-Victorian period was a 'golden age' for smaller and medium-sized business, driven by family firms, the accelerating participation of women, and the increasing use of incorporation as significant vehicles for development. A unique resource and citation for future research on entrepreneurship, of crucial significance to economic development policies for small business around the world, and above all the key entry point for researchers to the database which is deposited at the UK Data Archive, this major publication will change our understanding of the scale and economic significance of small businesses in the nineteenth century"-- Provided by publisher