This work aims to serve two primary purposes: first, to present findings regarding the age and related characteristics of corporations within the private enterprise system. The research seeks to provide insights into corporate behavior and potential implications for both private and public policy, acknowledging that some conclusions may be open to debate and may inspire differing interpretations from future researchers. To support such re-evaluation, the book offers a detailed explanation of the analytical methods employed, hoping to aid further investigation and refinement by others in the field.
The second purpose is to stimulate greater interest in the study of corporate "vital statistics," illustrating how various significant inferences can be drawn from a specific set of data. The author hopes this work will encourage the collection of more comprehensive and detailed corporate statistics, which could remove certain analytical limitations encountered here. This study is positioned as an initial exploration, not a final statement; with better data and refined methods from subsequent research, the findings may soon be surpassed, thereby achieving the goal of inspiring more advanced inquiries.
The author acknowledges valuable support from collaborators who contributed significantly to data handling and preparation, including Mrs. Harriet Ross and the Bureau of Business and Economic Research at the University of California, Berkeley. Their assistance lightened the burden of this extensive project; however, any errors or misinterpretations are the author’s responsibility alone.
This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1953. ,