This authoritative volume focuses on the rise of modern firms, from their early history to the present day. It considers the role of laws and contracts in shaping the growth and influence of business enterprises. It presents entrepreneurs, executives and the firms they controlled as driving...

Notes on contributors -- Introduction / Juan Fernssndez de Guevara and José Manuel Pastor -- Financial stability and economic growth / Santiago Carbó Valverde and Luis Pedauga -- Financial crisis and EU banks' performance / Ted Lindblom and Magnus Willesson -- Diversification, diversity and...

Truth about privatization in Latin America Alberto Chong and Florencio López-de-Silanes -- Benefits and costs of privatization in Argentina Sebastián Galiani ... [et al.] -- Privatization and firm performance in Bolivia Katherina Capra ... [et al.] -- Costs and benefits of privatization...