This book demonstrates to managers and investment analysts the value of analysing the long-run growth processes of corporations. The authors develop an approach for analysing and modelling the productivity growth of individual corporations and show the importance of corporate culture in determining firm performance in the long-run. The model is explained in clear and non-technical terms, and is backed up by full mathematical proofs in an appendix. The authors use their diversity of experience from the business, academic and policy sectors to demonstrate a range of applications for their model. By applying the ideas of complexity and self-organisation to the modern corporation, this book provides an alternative to the standard economic approach to corporate growth.

JACQUES SOLVAY is Honorary Chairman of the Board of Solvay S. A. and Chairman of the Solvay Institute for Physics and Chemistry, Brussels. He was formerly Chairman of the Executive Committee and Chairman of the Board of Solvay S. A.. He graduated as an electrical and mechanical engineer at the University of Brussels.

MICHÉLE SANGLIER is Director of the Cellule de Modelisation de la Complexite en Sciences Sociales at the Solvay Institute for Physics and Chemistry. She is also Chargée de cours at the Université Libre de Bruxelles. Her main research interest is the application of the idea of dissipative structures to socio-economic systems.

PAUL BRENTON is Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for European Policy Studies in Brussels. He was formerly a lecturer at the University of Birmingham. He has written widely on economic issues, with a particular focus on international trade and foreign direct investment.

Introduction: Modern Economic and Corporate Growth A Review of Economic Analysis of Growth Modelling the Growth of Corporate Productivity Technical Description of the Model of Corporate Productivity The Calibration of the Model Application of the Model as a Management Tool Quantitative analysis of mergers Application of the Model as an Investment Tool Conclusions