Destructive Creation: American Business and the Winning of World War II. By Mark R. Wilson. (Philadelphia, PA: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2016.Pp. 379. $45.00.)

Historian ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 80 (2) ◽  
pp. 365-366
Author(s):  
G. Kurt Piehler
Keyword(s):  
World War Ii ◽  
University Of Pennsylvania ◽  
American Business ◽  
World War

Conclusion: Sustainability

2020 ◽  
pp. 135-138
Author(s):  
Walter A. Friedman
Keyword(s):  
World War Ii ◽  
Risk Taking ◽  
World Economy ◽  
Economic Freedom ◽  
American Dream ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
American Business ◽  
World War ◽  
The World ◽  
Powerful Incentive

Throughout history, and particularly since World War II, American business has held a real and symbolic role in the world economy. The conclusion looks at the reasons behind this: an intermittently regulated business environment; a focus on innovation and regeneration and a comparative lack of stigma attached to failure; and the “American Dream” of democratic entrepreneurship, which has attracted new people and perspectives throughout history. While social and economic freedom is inaccessible to many, the idea of it has been a powerful incentive to encourage risk-taking people, from both America and around the world, to pursue opportunities in America—and enough have succeeded there to encourage others.

8. Corporate America, 1945–1980

2020 ◽  
pp. 101-118
Author(s):  
Walter A. Friedman
Keyword(s):  
World War Ii ◽  
Golden Age ◽  
Price Competition ◽  
Global Markets ◽  
High Tech ◽  
American Business ◽  
Corporate America ◽  
World War ◽  
New Strategies

America’s infrastructure emerged largely unscathed from World War II. “Corporate America, 1945–1980” defines the decades after the war as a golden age for American business. Postwar business norms influenced the “organization type” or executive, characterized by friendliness and loyalty. High-tech companies invested in aviation and aerospace, while low-tech companies dealing in food, lumber, tobacco, and brewing turned to marketing rather than price competition to sell their products. The postwar years saw the growth of services and franchises and bolstered America’s presence in overseas markets. Later in the century, it became clear that America needed new strategies to regain lost shares of global markets.

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