抄録
French entrepreneurship has been hotly debated in earlier business history. Perhaps the reason is that the poor performance of French industrialists has been considered as one of major retardative factors of French economic growth. But recent studies on French economic and business growth challenged these conventional views. The performance of modern French economy is far more satisfactory than has generally been allowed.
This article aims to reexamine the French entrepreneurship in the nineteenth century, mainly from two points of view. Firstly, investigating several cases of most successful firms, the positive role of family firm in French economic growth will be pointed out. The other major problems such as business ideology, paternalism and religion will be argued in this context. Secondly, regional differences in French entrepreneurship will be examined, based on the cases of five industrial centers (Alsace, Lorraine, Nord, Normandie, Lyon).
In conclusion, the emphasis will be placed on the active role that dynamic entrepreneurs and enterprises had played in the evolution of French modern economy.
