The German Yearbook on Business History is a source of insights into the entrepreneurial economy of the 19th and 20th centuries. It contains translations of topical journal articles and informative reviews of results and trends in business history research. As in the previous Yearbooks, the authors of this volume are experts in economic theory and practice whose contributions cover a wide spectrum.

Contents: Practical Corner: The Evolution of the Exchange Rate from "Sacrosanct" Parity to Flexible Monetary Policy Instrument.- Historical Studies: The Society for Business History: A Decade of Work. The Bankers Simon and Abraham Oppenheim 1812-1880. The Private Background to Their Professional Activity, their Role in Politics and Ennoblement. Russian Business in the Brüning Era.- Reviews of Literature: A Review of the New Literature on Business History.- A Review of the New Literature on Banking History. Reports on Conferences. The German Yearbook on Business History is a source of insights into the entrepreneurial economy of the 19th and 20th centuries. It contains translations of topical journal articles and informative reviews of results and trends in business history research. As in the previous Yearbooks, the authors of this volume are experts in economic theory and practice whose contributions cover a wide spectrum.

Alan S. Milward was a renowned historian of contemporary Europe. In addition to his books, as well as articles and chapters in edited books, he also wrote nearly 250 book reviews and review articles, some in French and German, which were published in journals world-wide. Taken together they reveal a remarkable degree of theoretical consistency in his approach to understanding the history of Europe since the French Revolution. This book brings together these previously unexamined pieces of historical analysis in order to trace and shed light on key intellectual debates taking place in the second half of the 20th century. Many of these discussions continue to influence us today, such as the role of Germany in Europe, the economic, social and political foundations of European integration, the European rescue of the nation-state, the reasons for launching the single currency, the conditions for retaining the allegiance of European citizens to the notions of nation and supra-nation, and ultimately the issue of democratic governance in a global environment. In bringing together these reviews and review articles, the book provides an introduction to the main scholarly achievements of Milward, in his own words. Fernando Guirao and Frances M.B. Lynch provide an introduction to the volume, which both guides the reader through many of the academic debates embedded within the text while underlining their contemporary relevance. By introducing and bringing together this hitherto overlooked treasure trove of historical analysis, this book maps a close itinerary of some of the most salient intellectual debates of the second half of the 20th century and beyond. This unique volume will be of great interest to scholars of economic history, European history and historiography.

During the 1920s, the "black decade" of British steel, nearly everyone agreed that the industry's revival depended on replacing obsolete equipment and instituting modern technologies that would increase production and decrease costs. Despite consensus, these goals were not reached and, even after wartime and postwar reconstruction needs were met, the industry continued its steady decline. Steven Tolliday advances three hypotheses for this stagnation. First, the problems of British steel, Tolliday suggests, were embedded in the structures of individual firms and of the industry as a whole--both unchanged since the prosperous years of the nineteenth century--and after World War I fractured by conflicting interests (share holders, managers, family members, bankers, creditors). Second, the two external institutions that might have enforced reorganization and modernization--the banking system and the government--were overcautious, had complex and contradictory goals, and lacked the management skills to exploit their potential financial leverage. Third, the many attempts at reform by banks and government collapsed because these establishments, like the industry itself, were constrained by traditions and antiquated structural rigidities. This excellent example of a new direction in business history--analysis of a given industry by conveying the interaction of technology, markets, companies, financial institutions, and government--brings many important theoretical questions into focus and also contributes substantially to the scrutiny of specific problems, such as why the British economy appears to be in irrevocable decline.

This book explores the value component of corporate culture of companies and their relationship with production efficiency and personal values of the employee. The authors combine both qualitative analysis of the experiences of leaders of these organizations and the most advanced quantitative analysis regarding the corporate performances.