The Changing European Firm

Throughout Europe, governments have taken it for granted that the spread of multinational US-stlye companies will enable greater economies of scale. This volume, however, argues that the societal context of firms prevents a homogenized firm-type spreading across Europe. The contributors to this volume, in contrast, show how the nature of firms is embedded in the larger societal context of nations, preventing a homogenized firm-type spreading across European countries. It becomes clear that researchers should locate the firm in the social context in which it is rooted, rather than looking to economic science to explain a "non-ideal type". Areas covered include: the comparison of typical firms in Denmark and Finland; the limited transformation of large enterprises in Hungary; and an analysis of supply networks in Britain and Germany. Through these essays and a discussion of the variations in the nature of the firm in Europe by European researchers, we receive insights into how national patterns develop and are reinforced.