Ronald Coase studied automobile manufacturers (among other things), Bob Ellickson studied ranchers (Order Without Law: How Neighbors Settle Disputes), and Lisa Bernstein studied diamond merchants (Opting Out of the Legal System: Extralegal Contractual Relations in the Diamond Industry, 21 J. Legal Stud. 115 (1992)). Now Gordon Smith is studying cheesemakers. , 207-29 (1991).
I love these projects that try to understand what business people actually do, rather than just getting ammunition for particular conclusions, though of course you have to start with some kind of a theory to guide the research.
One of these days I plan to augment my film project with interviews of filmmakers. In my dreams I'm going to start with the Coen brothers and Woody Allen and work up to studio and conglomerate heads. Cheese is less glamorous, but somehow I think more doable.
Can't wait for your interview of Oliver Stone! ;^)
Posted by: Tom Kirkendall | February 19, 2008 at 05:55 PM
How does a guy who likes to write about film miss the obvious Life of Brian reference here?
"Ahh, what's so special about the cheesemakers?
Well, obviously, this is not meant to be taken literally. It refers to any manufacturers of dairy products."
Posted by: Securities Guy | February 19, 2008 at 08:01 PM