Journal of Economic and Business History

The Journal of Economic and Business History was established in 1928 as a collaborative academic venture between Harvard University and the Business Historical Society. It emerged during a burgeoning period for the study of economic history as a formal discipline, intended to serve as a rigorous platform for scholarly inquiry into the evolution of commercial practices, trade, and economic systems. The journal sought to provide a bridge between historians and those analyzing modern business developments, maintaining a high standard of analytical research during its brief four-year publication run.

The publication was notable for its editorial focus, which favored detailed historical accounts alongside statistical investigations into industry trends. It eventually ceased operations in 1932, a victim of the financial pressures and changing academic priorities brought on by the Great Depression. Despite its short lifespan, the journal is frequently cited by contemporary economic historians as an foundational archive that captured the intellectual climate of the late 1920s and early 1930s, documenting a pivotal era of American and international economic transition.