About EBHS

Organized in 1975, The Economic and Business History Society encourages interdisciplinary scholarship in the areas of business and economic history and the application of historical perspectives to current issues. The membership includes historians, economists, business professionals, social scientists, and others who share these common interests. Members are located throughout the United States, Canada, Western Europe, and the Far East. The EBHS is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

Annual Conferences

The Economic and Business History Society holds its three-day annual conference during late April or in May. Members and friends are invited to attend and participate through presenting papers, entering into discussions on a wide range of topics and joining tours of business or historical sights in the area. A prominent part of each conference is the annual banquet held Friday evening of each conference. Each year a widely recognized speaker is invited to present the address. The annual meeting also provides an opportunity for friends to informally discuss topics pertinent to their shared interests.

Past Meetings of the EBHS

Essays in Economic & Business History

Since its founding The Economic & Business History Society has brought scholars from these two fields together through its annual meetings and through the society’s journal, Essays in Economic & Business History. EEBH publishes high-quality research from all aspects of economic and business history. EEBH welcomes both empirical and non-empirical research, as well as pieces that, despite their high level of scholarship, may not fit nicely into the usual boxes valued by other outlets in economic or business history.

Professional Conduct

The Economic and Business History Society (EBHS) is committed to providing a professional environment that fosters the open exchange of ideas and provides equal opportunities and treatment for all participants regardless of their sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, parental or caregiver status, race, ethnicity, nationality, disability, socioeconomic status, political affiliation, veteran status, age, or religion. Consistent with this commitment, it is the policy of the EBHS that all participants at EBHS activities enjoy a welcoming environment free from discrimination, including harassment. Please read more in our Professional Conduct Policy.

The Scope of Interest

The scope of interest of the Society is reflected by a sample of titles of papers presented at recent conferences:

“The Importance of Democratization in Determining Central Government Spending, 1870-1938”
Jari Eloranta, Appalachian State University
Svetlozar Andreev, Centre for the Study of Democracy, University of Westminster

“When strong partnership became hindrance to growth: An example from Indian Software Industry, 1984-2004”
Rakesh Ranjam Mishra, Indian Institute of Management

“The Evolution of Twelfth Century Commercial Contracts in Genoese Trade”
Roberto Mazzoleni, Hofstra University

“Frank Vanderlip and the National City Bank During World War I”
Priscilla Roberts, Hong Kong University, Hong Kong

“Can Politicians Speed Up Long-Term Technological Change?”
Jochen Streb, Univ. of Heidelberg, Germany

“Internal Labour Markets in the Australian Banking Industry”
Andrew Seltzer, Royal Holloway College

“Collusion in the Indian Jute Industry in the 1930s: Why did it not Work?”
Bishnupriya Gupta, London School of Economics

“Ibn Khaldun and the Business Economy”
Adil Mouhammed, University of Illinois at Springfield

“Financing Industrialization in Prewar China”
Yeh-chien Wang, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan

“A Business and Government Partnership on Post-War New Zealand: Fletchers, Construction, Forests and Paper”
Astrid Baker, Massey University, New Zealand

“Protection Against Financial Crisis and Collapse? The Role of Regulation and Supervision. The Norwegian Case 1914-35”
Sverre Knutsen, Norwegian School of Management, Norway

“Adjustments Prior to Long-term Stable Employment: Preconditions of the Japanese Employment System, 1945-49”
Jae-won Sun, Harvard University

“The Ethical Challenge of Nazism: Industrialists and Bankers in Nazi Germany”
Christopher Kopper, Universität Göttingen

“Lydia Pinkham in Canada: The Business and Culture of Patent Medicine Marketing, 1920- 1940.”
Daniel Robinson, Univ. of Western Ontario

“Portugese Investments in Brazil: The Contribution of Historical and Cultural Proximity”
Carla Guapo da Costa, Center of Economic Studies, Portugal.

“Banks on Board: Banks in German and American Corporate Governance, 1870-1914 Jeffrey” Fear, Harvard University

Banking and Financial Crisis in United States History:What Guidance can History Offer Policy Makers?
Ellis Tallman, Oberlin College
Elmus R. Wicker, Indiana University

Strategic Plagiarism in the Canadian Cast Iron Industry in the Early 20th Century
Lisa Baillargeon, University of Quebec in Outaouis
Patrice Gélinas, York University, Canada

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