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Family and business in north-west England, 1760-1820

Grant reference: RES-062-23-0593

Journal article details

Title Inheritance and continuity in small family businesses during the early industrial revolution

Description Explanations for the rapid turnover rates of small businesses during the early years of British industrialisation are usually framed in terms of mismanagement or misfortune. More recently, the short lifespans of family businesses have been presented in the context of family ambitions and priorities. Whilst these explanations are persuasive, such studies tend to describe a reluctance to continue the family firm after the death of the head of household. By utilising evidence of both formal and informal methods of post-mortem estate disposal in Liverpool and Manchester we argue that the petite bourgeoisie of the early Industrial Revolution were more likely than has been thought to continue family businesses and to treat them as valuable going concerns. Moreover, we identify a degree of freedom on the part of those who inherited that allowed them to use their own judgements about the best interests of surviving family members.

Url http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00076791.2011.631117

DOI 10.1080/00076791.2011.631117

Language English

Primary contributor

Author Hannah Barker

Additional contributors

Co-author Mina Ishizu

Additional details

Volume number 54

Issue number 2

Is this item peer reviewed (refereed)? Yes

ISSN 0007-6791

Publisher Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group

Date of publication 01 January 2012

Page reference 227-244

Place of publication Abingdon

Is this item a pre-print or post-print? Post-print

Title of journal Business history

Cite this outcome

Citation Style:

Harvard

Barker, Hannah and Ishizu, Mina (2012) Inheritance and continuity in small family businesses during the early industrial revolution. Business history. 54 (2), pp. 227-244 Abingdon: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group.

Vancouver

Barker Hannah and Ishizu Mina. Inheritance and continuity in small family businesses during the early industrial revolution. Business history 2012; 54 (2): 227-244.