1. Trading Companies in Theory and History ; 2. Foundations ; 3. From Trade to Investment ; 4. Trading in Crisis ; 5. Concentration and Diversification ; 6. Business Groups ; 7. Governance and Human Resources ; 8. External Relationships ; 9. Natural Resources ; 10. Traders as Manufacturers ; 11. End Game ; 12. Conclusion ; Appendix 1. Post-tax return on net capital employed of selected British trading companies, 1895-1998 ; Appendix 2. Pre-tax return on net capital employed of selected British trading companies, 1948-1998 ; Appendix 3. Sources for calculations on capital employed of British trading companies

`Review from previous edition new light on the vexed issues of the relationship between the City and the domestic economy, on the nature of overseas investment and imperialism, on the nature of British management and on the role of trust and knowledge in economic performance.' Martin Daunton, THES 19.01.01. `Jones is an authority on the history of multinational enterprise ... In the present volume, he turns his attention to British traders. And, what a rich subject this turns out to be. ... an archive-based work that provides information not available elsewhere.' Mira Wilkins, EH.NET `Jones is superb is showing the variety; he not only discusses the traders but also their long-standing and complex external business relationships. ... Jones is excellent in tracing the multiple problems British trading companies faced in the years of the First World War, the 1920s, the 1930s, and of the Second World War.' Mira Wilkins, EH.NET `This is a splendid book. It not only delineates the trading companies' expansion (and contraction) but also puts that story in the context of the evolving world economy.' Mira Wilkins, EH.NET `This book is original and subtle, careful to pick up nuances, and to delineate properly its topic. It is a major accomplishment. Jones is ready to generalize and to theorize, but he does not oversimplify. The book will set the reader reflecting on British economic development and the British role in the global economy. It is essential reading for every economic and business historian interested in the history of multinational enterprise, in British economic history, and also in where British business fits in the evolution of the world economy.' Mira Wilkins, EH.NET

An important contribution to current debates in business history and international business Chronological and thematic structure Strong international and comparative dimension Based upon research from confidential business records

Joseph C. Wilson Professor of Business Administration, Entrepreneurial Management Unit, Harvard Business School. He previously taught at the universities of Cambridge and Reading, and at the London School of Economics, in the U.K. He is the author and editor of many books and articles on the history of international business, including British Multinational Banking 1830-1990 (OUP 1993). He is a former President of both the European Business History Association and the Business History Conference of the United States, is co-editor of the journal Business History Review, and editor of the forthcoming Oxford Handbook of Business History.

An important contribution to current debates in business history and international business Chronological and thematic structure Strong international and comparative dimension Based upon research from confidential business records