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A History of Small Business in America

Mansel G. Blackford

Publisher: University of North Carolina Press
Imprint: The University of North Carolina Press
Published: 11/2003
Pages: 232
Subject: History, Business and Economics | University of North Carolina
Print ISBN: 9.78E+12
eBook ISBN: 9780807862339

DESCRIPTION

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 to 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.