Business groups around the world: an introduction

Abstract

This article examines recent historical research on business groups in the light of business group theory and ongoing debates on the economic rationale, characteristics, and social implications of this ubiquitous form of business organisation. We argue that historians are challenging several assumptions of the business group literature in two ways: expanding the temporal and geographical boundaries of business groups and producing sound empirical evidence on the long-term dynamics and flexibility of business groups in different institutional contexts. Finally, we outline a research agenda aimed at increasing the impact of historical research on business group scholarship.