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Though in its infancy, the European enterprise has the power to change both the perception and the actual face of Europe. This book evaluates the future potential of this new type of enterprise. The contributors look for European convergence at all levels of the economy: firm, branch, state, and EU. They stress various points of view, using diverse methods, and propose different measures.

Abstract
Several theories on communication are tested on trial to what extent they can provide additional insight in business history. All are focused on one known example, the relation between the dyestuff cartel and its Japanese competitors in the interwar period. Can theory extend the limits of our knowledge even in well known cases? While the classification of types of information transfer according to Chun Wei Choo provides only limited new insights, other theories provided interesting results. One is the creation of mutual trust, which helps to explain the - from an economic point of view - quite surprising longevity of the cartel. Another application provides reasons for the cartel's largest strategic failure. Thus, communication theory can but need not provide deeper insights into business history.

Abstract
A first overview on the usefulness of systems of information transfer for business history is provided, taking into account the contributions of this volume as well as others. The confrontation of empirical information and theory was useful to a certain extent, while it showed little progress in a couple of other cases. Within such systems of information transfer, trust, author and cultural knowledge play a significant role, which helps explain management results. Their degree can explain success and failure, though not in a linear way. The human factor plays an overriding part only in exceptional cases where an extremely strong personality represents the top of an organization, otherwise structural factor prevail. Since there is no taxonomy it is difficult though not impossible to evaluate the quality and usefulness of a specific system of information. There is some indication that organizations which are exposed to competition make better use of their systems than non-competitive organizations.

Les cartels revisités : un survol de questions neuves, de méthodes nouvelles et de résultats surprenants L'accord général concernant les avantages de la concurrence s'accompagne d'un consensus similaire autour du caractère destructeur des cartels. Partant de ce verdict, la présente contribution analyse diverses hypothèses et met en lumière une réalité pratique qui contredit ce jugement. De même que des exemples négatifs existent à coup sûr, on peut en trouver beaucoup de positifs. Dans une première étape, l'article présente des cas dans lesquels l'évidence historique contredit la perception négative traditionnelle. Une seconde traite des champs de recherche nouveaux pour une recherche future qui pourrait accroître beaucoup notre connaissance pratique de la cartellisation. Les cartels d'une part, les fusions-acquisitions de l'autre constituent les deux voies dans lesquelles une entreprise peut s'engager du point de vue de sa croissance externe. Alors qu'un comportement concurrentiel peut être impulsé au sein des cartels, il ne peut l'être dans les entreprises fusionnées. Une analyse récente du comportement coopératif contrôlée par l'État ouvre, en fin de compte, de nouvelles possibilités pour la décision économique prise dans le but de relancer la concurrence. JEL Codes: L4, L5, D42, F53, K21

Abstract
This article looks into the useof legal cartels in certain branches of industriesduring structural crises, exceptionally acknowledged by the European Commission. From the government's point of view the advantage of such a crisis-cartel is that non state-money is invested, in order to save a branch of industry. The advantage for industry is a lower level of government interference, compared to state-aid and other schemes. The article explores the fate of the crisis-cartel on artificial fibers (1982–1985) in particular. Finally, the question is raised as to what extent states remember cartels as instruments for solving crises and saving finances whilst experiencing phases of financial stress such as the current one.