Business in America from the East India Company to Google

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

This course traces the history of business in the United States, from the merchant-smugglers of the American Revolution through the rise of big business and the tech boom. We will consider the operation of individual firms as well as situate the history of American business within its wider social, political, and economic context. In particular, we will move between thinking about the specific challenges businesses faced - such as the emergence of new technologies or price-cutting competitors - and a broader conversation about the evolution of American business, such as the "managerial revolution." The course will proceed chronologically, but each week will stress a particular theme, often seen through the story of a particular firm. Topics addressed include the rise of a national market, debates over regulatory capture, outsourcing and globalization, and finally the relationship between management, investment capital, and organized labor.