Projecting Capitalism: A History of the Internationalization of the Construction Industry

From the 1840's to the 20th century, large Western European and U.S. construction firms shaped the international economy by furnishing crucial physical infrastructure. The author attempts to destroy the myth that construction is a localized industry of many small firms in perfect competition, sheltered from world markets. U.S. and European firms that promote world markets were forced to transcend local and national markets and incorporate the Third World into both world markets and capital circuits. This book is valuable reading for international, political, and developmental economists; labor, economic, social, colonial, labor, engineering and material culture historians; organization theorists; and economic geographers.