Surveillance archive: using reports in business history

Ballor, G., Recio, G. and Vanatta, S. H. (2023) Surveillance archive: using reports in business history. Management and Organizational History, 18(1), pp. 43-53. (doi: 10.1080/17449359.2023.2179072)

Abstract

In a narrow sense, this essay is meant to encourage business historians to consider (and reconsider) the variety of public and private reports, which can provide insights into the operation of firms and industries. U.S. bank examiner reports tell us about how nineteenth century banks operated within a Republican political economy; European Union reports shine light on the differences and similarities between firms operating in various national markets and their relationship to increased economic integration; equity analyst reports present a forensic financial analysis while also revealing a company’s history. More broadly, this essay is also an invitation to reflect on reports as a nexus of surveillance and power. Indeed, such paperwork is power (the tricky bit is figuring out just what sort of power it is, and who wields it).

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Vanatta, Dr Sean
• Authors: Ballor, G., Recio, G., and Vanatta, S. H.
• Subjects: D History General and Old World > D History (General); E History America > E11 America (General)
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Economic and Social History
• Journal Name: Management and Organizational History
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis
• ISSN: 1744-9359
• ISSN (Online): 1744-9367
• Published Online: 23 February 2023
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2023 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Management and Organizational History 18(1): 43-53
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License