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Invisible Women: Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Family Firms in Nineteenth-Century France

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  • Khan, B. Zorina

Abstract

The French economy has been criticized for a lack of integration of women in business and for the prevalence of inefficient family firms. A sample drawn from patent and exhibition records is used to examine the role of women in enterprise and invention in France. Middle-class women were extensively engaged in entrepreneurship and innovation, and the empirical analysis indicates that their commercial efforts were significantly enhanced by association with family firms. Such formerly invisible achievements suggest a more productive role for family-based enterprises, as a means of incorporating relatively disadvantaged groups into the market economy as managers and entrepreneurs. “This business model … melds entrepreneurial passion with a long family tradition.” —Wendel Company (1704–2014) 1

Suggested Citation

  • Khan, B. Zorina, 2016. "Invisible Women: Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Family Firms in Nineteenth-Century France," The Journal of Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 76(1), pages 163-195, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:jechis:v:76:y:2016:i:01:p:163-195_00
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Nuvolari, Alessandro & Tortorici, Gaspare & Vasta, Michelangelo, 2023. "British-French Technology Transfer from the Revolution to Louis Philippe (1791–1844): Evidence from Patent Data," The Journal of Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 83(3), pages 833-873, September.
    2. Sonia Baijot & Charlotte Le Chapelain, 2022. "Reassessing women’s participation in entrepreneurial activities in the nineteenth century: A review of the literature," Working Papers of BETA 2022-24, Bureau d'Economie Théorique et Appliquée, UDS, Strasbourg.
    3. Alexander Donges & Felix Selgert, 2019. "Technology transfer via foreign patents in Germany, 1843–77," Economic History Review, Economic History Society, vol. 72(1), pages 182-208, February.
    4. Herrade Igersheim & Charlotte Le Chapelain, 2019. "Measuring Success: Women Leaders in Industry in Nineteenth Century France: The Case of Amélie de Dietrich," Working Papers 10-19, Association Française de Cliométrie (AFC).
    5. Herrade Igersheim & Charlotte Le Chapelain, 2019. "Women Leaders in Industry in Nineteenth Century France: The Case of Amélie de Dietrich," Working Papers of BETA 2019-35, Bureau d'Economie Théorique et Appliquée, UDS, Strasbourg.
    6. B. Zorina Khan, 2017. "Related Investing: Corporate Ownership and Capital Mobilization during Early Industrialization," NBER Working Papers 23052, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    7. Merouani, Youssouf & Perrin, Faustine, 2024. "Women Inventors: On the Origins of the Gender Patenting Gap," Lund Papers in Economic History 255, Lund University, Department of Economic History.
    8. Sonia Baijot & Charlotte Le Chapelain, 2022. "Reassessing women’s participation in entrepreneurial activities in the nineteenth century: A review of the literature," Working Papers 07-22, Association Française de Cliométrie (AFC).
    9. Sonia Baijot & Charlotte Le Chapelain, 2022. "Reassessing Women’s Participation in Entrepreneurial Activities in the Nineteenth Century: A Review of the Literature [Réévaluer la participation des femmes aux activités entrepreneuriales au dix-n," Post-Print hal-03932307, HAL.
    10. B. Zorina Khan, 2024. "‘A new way by her invented’: Women inventors and technological innovation in Britain, 1800–1930," Economic History Review, Economic History Society, vol. 77(3), pages 928-952, August.
    11. Youssouf Merouani & Faustine Perrin, 2023. "Myths and Biases: An Exploration of Women’s Historical Patenting Activities," Working Papers 09-23, Association Française de Cliométrie (AFC).

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