EXTRA: Evolution of National Business Systems

The BINT-project (Bedrijfsgeschiedenis in Nederland in de twintigste eeuw) has the competitiveness and changing characteristics of the Dutch business system during the twentieth century as its main focus. THIS PROGRAM WILL BE FINISHED IN 2011. BUSINESS HISTORY WILL BECOME PART OF 'DRIVERS AND CARRIERS OF GLOBALISATION'

Research Directors
Academic Focus and Theoretical Approach
National and International Context
Future Plans, Themes and Projects
Staff
Temporary Staff
PhD Students
Website

Research Directors

• Prof. dr. Keetie E. Sluyterman (Universiteit Utrecht)
• Dr. G.K. Westerhuis (Universiteit Utrecht)

Academic Focus and Theoretical Approach

The programme ‘Evolution of national business systems’ consists of two building blocks. The Dutch project BINT has been set up in the past two years. Only recently the decision has been taken to add a Belgium component to this project. The Belgian contribution is still under discussion, but it is clear that the Dutch project will be greatly enhanced by the possibilities of a Dutch-Belgian comparison.

At the beginning of the 21st century, the Dutch business system is undergoing important institutional changes as a consequence of globalisation, European integration, technological innovations and market changes, including privatisation and volatile consumer preferences.

During a large part of the 20th century, the Dutch business system could be typified as ‘neo-corporatist’, with a close and constructive relationship between state and business, cartel-agreements, conflict avoidance in labour relations, a consensus-seeking business culture and protective corporate governance structures. At present this neo-corporatist business system seems to be moving in the direction of the Anglo-Saxon model, characterised by shareholder capitalism, easy hire-and-fire rules, and a preference for lower taxation and smaller government. Such a far reaching change demands reflection, all the more as the achievements of Dutch business have been impressive during the past century and therefore do not necessarily give rise to radical changes.

The relation between business systems on the one hand and competitive effectiveness and economic success on the other is complex and needs further understanding. Historians, particularly business historians, can and should contribute to the present discussion among social scientists about where the Dutch business system is heading in the 21st century by analysing long term changes in the system and their effects on the competitiveness of the Netherlands. This project will use the work of Richard Whitley on business systems and the recent study of Peter Hall and David Soskice on varieties of capitalism.

National and International Context

The BINT programme is an initiative of the Business History Research Group of Utrecht University and its Research Institute for History and Culture (OGC). The project managers are: prof. Jan Luiten van Zanden, dr. Keetie Sluyterman and dr. Joost Dankers. The Netherlands Economic History Archive (NEHA), the Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Free University of Amsterdam, the Foundation for the History of Technology and the Technical University of Eindhoven, are also participating. To guarantee the societal embeddedness of the research project an advisory board has been set up with important representatives of business, labour and government. Our aim is to seek close collaboration with business historians from other universities as well as with other social scientists. The collaboration with our colleagues in Belgium is an important step in this direction. The result of the project will be presented at the annual conference of the European Business History Association.

Future Plans, Themes and Projects

Seven themes have been identified and turned into separate projects with their own researchers. Each project will result in a synthesis in book format.

1. Entrepreneurs and the rise of the managerial company, by dr. J. van Gerwen and dr. Ferry de Goey

2. Labour relations and business culture.

3. Mergers and take-overs: Concentration processes in business, by dr. Bram Bouwens and dr. Joost Dankers

4. Internationalisation: The Netherlands as host and home for multinational companies, by dr. Onno de Wit, Maurits van Os and Gerarda Westerhuis

5. Financing and corporate governance, by dr. Joost Jonker

6. Business and government, by dr. Jan Peet

7. Innovation, by dr. Mila Davids

Last Modified: 28-11-2011