History-informed institutional change: Houghton Mifflin and the shifting dynamics of the US book publishing industry (1950–1970)

María Fernández-Moya

Business History, 2025, vol. 67, issue 5, 1400-1431

Abstract: After World War II, the United States experienced a robust economy marked by growing demand for information and education, alongside the emergence of leisure activities. Quantitative data spanning from 1950 to 1970, along with the reconstruction of Houghton Mifflin’s business trajectory, indicate that economic and social factors laid the groundwork for a transformation in the publishing industry. Through a meticulously structured historical analysis, this article contributes to the field of business history by elucidating the evolution of the publishing industry during this period of observation. Furthermore, it offers valuable insights into institutional theory by demonstrating how historical contexts and environments shape new practices and stimulate organisational change.

Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:taf:bushst:v:67:y:2025:i:5:p:1400-1431

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DOI: 10.1080/00076791.2024.2398087

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