Suchergebnisse

Abstract
On the basis of general discussions, the paper examines the "religious" functions of competition within the Deutsche Handelstag: firstly, the sensegiving function of "competition", secondly, its relevance in questions of interest policy and thirdly, semantic change and ritualised communication. By referring to cultural studies approaches, the paper shows that institutions and market practices were discursively (or "religiously") rationalised and legitimised even if they had nothing in common with competition anymore.
The concept of competition remained undefined in content, was sometimes only ritualised rhetoric and changed semantically as was opportune. Nevertheless, given that interest politics are specific to space and time, an analysis cannot solely rely on abstract cultural studies approaches: The DHT's policy positions cannot be explained by "religious" belief in competition alone as pragmatism was strong. At the same time, a cultural studies perspective contributes to a better understanding of the logic of organisation because it focuses on the changes in semantics and (ritualised) acts of self-assurance.

Abstract
The law & finance literature often assumes that financial institutions in Germany, especially in the stock market, were less workable than for example in the U.S. or Great Britain due to extensive state regulation. This article analyses the regulation and admission to listing practices for (initial) public offerings in Germany from 1870 to 1932. It argues, by contrast, that state regulation in the German stock market largely enabled self-regulation and that a closer look at market practices indicates that the written law only offered a framework and left the stock exchanges great scope for manoeuvre. In the end, the German regulatory system came close to what law & finance literature describes as a most efficient market order.

Abstract
The Deutsche Handelstag, founded in 1861, coordinated the interests of its regional members - the chambers of commerce (or equivalent organisations) and regional interest groups. It mainly discussed topics that affected the economy as a whole. It therefore strongly participated in the various negotiations concerning tariffs and the market organisation of German Railways. Discussions were predetermined by the logic of the different railway systems (state-owned, mixed, and private), that significantly affected each individual state's railway policy. The Handelstag produced several proposals on market organisation and tariffs, most of which failed for political reasons. As well as revealing the difficulties inherent in getting these proposals publically adopted, internal discussions also reveal the complexity of integrating existing "national" markets in political negotiations. An appropriate form of market organisation still did not exist when the Deutsche Reich was founded in 1871. At this time the Handelstag (as it had done previously) favoured regulation, especially competition on the track, but finally conceded in nationalising the (Prussian) Railways in 1876/1879, as it was the only viable policy capable of overcoming market failure.

Abstract
This issue takes a critical look at the secularity of the modern businessman as frequently postulated in research. For this purpose, the contributions examine the contingency management and interpretation of meaning on the part of both genuinely religious and non-religious businesspeople. How, and with which references, symbolisms and semantics, did businesspeople justify their actions and give them meaning? While some legitimised their actions by grounding these in religious belief, for others a belief in the market's productive forces offered a preferable interpretation. In both cases, the actors constructed their respective "promises of salvation" in a similar way, attempting to give their actions meaning and eliminate self-doubt through ostentatious, ritualized and symbolic communication. This special issue ties in with current discussions in social science and history about the relationship between religion and the economy. By drawing on cultural historical approaches, it offers new insights into the legitimation of entrepreneurial action in modern capitalism.

This book discusses challenges that arise for multinational companies from not having a single 'nationality' and being exposed to a variety of simultaneous country-specific, legally, and culturally constructed nationalities at home and abroad. Brexit, America First campaigns, Russia's war against Ukraine, or the ever-tenser relationship between China and the US have led to raising concerns about foreign direct investments. Multinational companies are pressured to withdraw from countries and reorganise global value chains. The long-held confidence that 'nationality' does not matter for multinational companies in the globalised economy has dwindled. Today, companies doing business abroad are exposed to implications of their 'nationality' because governments and customers react upon the 'nationality' of a firm or a product as they did in the 20th century. The chapters in this book address many international business domains, covering political risk, liability of foreignness, cultural distance, headquarters change, and tax planning. They use different methodological approaches to analyse European and US-based MNEs in Europe, Africa, and South-East Asia from 1900 to 1980. The book argues that 'nationality' is not a ghost from the past in international business, it is a topic that requires substantial consideration. The chapters in this book were originally published in the journal Business History.

Die vorliegende Pionierstudie zur (west)deutschen Unterhaltungselektronikindustrie im Niedergang wirft – unter Hinzuziehung bisher unausgewerteter deutsch- und japanischsprachiger Quellen – einen neuen Blick auf die Strukturkrise der 1970/80er Jahre sowie ihre Deutung, ihren Verlauf und ihre Verortung. Exemplifiziert wird die Branchenstudie am Beispiel eines der führenden, branchenprägenden Unternehmen, der "Telefunken Fernseh und Rundfunk GmbH" (TFR), sowie durch einen historischen Vergleich mit der damals erfolgreichen japanischen Unterhaltungselektronikindustrie. Der innovationshistorische, komparatistische Ansatz verdeutlicht die Erfolgs- und Misserfolgsfaktoren sowie die Eigenheiten der nationalen Innovationssysteme und -kulturen.