ПРЕЕМСТВЕННОСТЬ КАК ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКОЕ И МОРАЛЬНОЕ ОСНОВАНИЕ ДЕЯТЕЛЬНОСТИ МОСКОВСКИХ КУПЕЧЕСКИХ СЕМЕЙНЫХ ФИРМ (XIX — НАЧАЛО ХХ В.)

Abstract

In economic history, succession is considered as one of the factors of a long-term commercial activity. In the 19th century, first of all, this is succession in the work of the family firm. Exploring the history of entrepreneurship in this sense would mean studying, first, the succession of economic activity (including intergenerational transfers of assets), and, second, the institutional succession, including the rules and regulations procedures in management of industrial and commercial enterprises, based on moral principles. The intergenerational transition of the family business was not only based on the legislation requirements and depended on the composition of the family, it also took into account ethical norms aimed at stabilizing the merchant family’s entrepreneurial activity. The article focuses on different aspects of succession in the merchant family’s activity, including the influence of the factor of the family business longevity on formation of entrepreneurs’ self-identity, an understanding the importance of the topographic factor in business relations with constant customers. It also analyzes intra-family agreements, which were created to ensure the stability of the family business, the reflection of ideas about the continuity of business in the texts of wills is also considered. Great importance was attached to the institutional consolidation and strengthening of the family firms’ property assets. Drawing upon materials from archival sources, the article examines the histories of large Moscow firms of the Bakhrushins, Khludovs, Tretyakovs, Nosovs, Naydenovs, Samgins, Zimins, which activities in industry and trade numbered from four to six generations over a century.