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The British commercial houses in Peru and Chile between the two world wars: success and failure

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  • Rory M. Miller

Abstract

The previously successful British merchant houses on the west coast of South America faced significant problems between the two world wars. Earlier historians have referred to difficulties such as the volatility of commodity prices, the organisation and structure of the firms, and changes in patterns of trade. This paper, instead, compares their different experiences on the basis of archives from the merchants and their banks, concluding that their response to crisis differed, depending on the manner and extent of diversification, their core expertise, the quality of their management, and the support of their banks. The outcomes varied from outright failure to continued growth, with the two largest firms struggling to survive and adapt to the new business environment.

Suggested Citation

  • Rory M. Miller, 2015. "The British commercial houses in Peru and Chile between the two world wars: success and failure," Estudios de Economia, University of Chile, Department of Economics, vol. 42(2 Year 20), pages 93-119, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:udc:esteco:v:42:y:2015:i:2:p:93-119
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Chapman,Stanley, 1992. "Merchant Enterprise in Britain," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521351782, October.
    2. Miller, Rory, 1982. "Small Business in the Peruvian Oil Industry: Lobitos Oilfields Limited Before 1934," Business History Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 56(3), pages 400-423, October.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Chile; Peru; merchants; nitrate; sugar; cotton.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L81 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Retail and Wholesale Trade; e-Commerce
    • N76 - Economic History - - Economic History: Transport, International and Domestic Trade, Energy, and Other Services - - - Latin America; Caribbean
    • N84 - Economic History - - Micro-Business History - - - Europe: 1913-
    • N86 - Economic History - - Micro-Business History - - - Latin America; Caribbean

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