The Bigness Complex [Hardcover]

Walter Adams (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

A traditional view of big business in America has been one of efficiency, innovation, and constraint by the countervailing powers of big labor and big government. Adams (Economics, Michigan State Univ.) and Brock (Economics, Miami Univ., Ohio) take issue with this view: through the analysis of numerous case studies, they expose big business as inefficient, uncompetitive, and in collusion with labor and government. The consumer is the big loser. The solution Adams and Brock offer is vigorous antitrust enforcement in the public interest; smaller indeed may be better. The authors are at their best when they illuminate the gap between economic theory and actual performance. Recommended for most libraries. Richard C. Schiming, Economics Dept., Mankato State Univ., Minn.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 426 pages
• Publisher: Pantheon; 1st edition (November 12, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0394547217
• ISBN-13: 978-0394547213
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.5 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,023,007 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Difficult to argue with, August 6, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Bigness Complex (Hardcover)

This book is very engaging and thought provoking. I'm sure the apologists for bigness dislike this book a great deal. Unlike most business and economics texts this book is chock full of references. The apologists for bigness have nice sounding philosophies but they rarely have any real world data to back up their grand ideas. The authors of this book have the facts to back up their argument that bigness, in and of itself, is bad. A very persuasive argument that will be difficult to counter in a rational manner.

5.0 out of 5 stars Analysis based on facts that are difficult to dispute, August 1, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Bigness Complex (Hardcover)

This was an excellent and thought provoking book. They challenge the assumption that big is better by showing fact after fact after fact that proves otherwise. The best part of the book is that, unlike most management, business, and economic texts, it isn't just theoretical philosophizing with no basis in reality. Every chapter is laden with dozens of references to real world events and published facts. If only the Bigness apologists had so much evidence it would be easier to take them seriously....