Routledge Dynamics of International Business: Comparative Perspectives of Firms, Markets and Entrepreneurship

The Dynamics of International Business offers a comparative, chronological overview of the strategic and structural evolution of international firms. Organized around eras of global economic development, the text synthesizes research on the internationalization of firms, highlighting crucial turning points in the evolution of the international economy. A particular emphasis is placed on the relationship between historical evidence and the theoretical frameworks available for its interpretation. Each period is illustrated by a selection of short case studies from a variety of industry sectors, including the Levant Company, Nestlé, Singer, Saint Gobain and NEC. An essential textbook for courses in business and economic history, this book will also be a valuable resource for scholars and students of international business more generally. Review 'A profound overall picture of the long-term development of international business ... [that] can be recommended to all historians interested in long-term trends in international business.' - Jarkko Keskinen, International Small Business Journal 'A splendid history of the multinational enterprise from medieval Europe to present day business. Practically every chapter has a case study illustrating the theme of the chapter. Colli shows with great skill how the organizational and administrative forms of multinational enterprise have altered through time. His book puts the multinational enterprise into the context of the changing world order.' - Mira Wilkins, Professor, Florida International University, USA 'A convincing presentation of the historical roots of today’s most dynamic economic actor: International business. Colli understood to combine major trends with illustrative detail. A masterpiece on economic history.' - Harm G. Schröter, Professor, University of Bergen, Norway 'This is the textbook I was looking for when I set up a new history course on International Business and Nation States. It gives the students a much needed long-term perspective on the development of international business.' - Ben Wubs, Associate Professor, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Netherlands 'An innovative book which brings together the role of markets, firms and entrepreneurs to explain the past and current challenges and dynamics of international business in the global economy. It will be of great interest to those studying or teaching international business and its history.' - Teresa da Silva Lopes, Professor, University of York, UK 'Intelligently integrates theories and case studies to illuminate key periods of change in world business history. A welcome, much needed contribution that should be required reading in any international business history course.' - Paloma Fernández Pérez, Senior Lecturer, University of Barcelona, Spain About the Author Andrea Colli is Professor of Economic History at Bocconi University, Italy. He is co-author of the textbook Business History: Compexities and Comparisons with Franco Amatori (2011, Routledge)