This book discusses the course of Greek shipping companies from the early post-war years to the early 21st century. The shipping industry controlled by Greek interests has become the only force that has almost continuously developed and increased its share in global shipping, rising from 1.5% in 1947 to 17% of global shipping by the early 21st century.
Greek-owned shipping has supported its growth on its key available resource, its human capital. It highlights the value of the model of shipping entrepreneurship in Greece, which actually claims elements of uniqueness on a global level: how, in a globalized industry, a significant number of entrepreneurs and companies with long-lasting presence and distinct competitive advantage in international markets emerge from a specific national area, which does not showcase similar successes in other sectors of economic activity?
The authors conducted extensive field research, which included interviews with 118 shipping companies with a market presence of over 30 years, and compiled a database of more than 25,000 ship registrations for the period 1945-2000. A result of this research is also the second part of the volume, where the business activities of 144 shipping families are presented.
