PublishedHarvard Business Review Press, February 2013 |
ISBN9781422183182 |
FormatHardcover, 204 pages |
Dimensions21cm × 14cm × 2cm |
Pirates have appeared at pivotal periods in history--when capitalism spread along the trade routes toward the Indies, when radio opened an era of mass communication, when the Internet became part of the global economy. Most people view them as solitary anarchists out to destroy capitalism.
But as it turns out, the opposite is true. Durand and Vergne argue that piracy both drives capitalism's evolution and foreshadows the direction of the economy. Drawing on a rigorous yet engaging analysis of the history of piracy, the authors reveal that pirates are far from the lone discontents in popular myths. In fact, pirates have always formed complex and sophisticated organizations that both challenge and change the course of capitalism. Durand and Vergne recommend that rather than trying to stamp out piracy, savvy companies should keep a sharp eye on the pirate space. Only then can they detect how capitalism's rules of engagement are changing--and then revise their business practices to remain successful in the new game.
