This data set consists of samples of the largest German firms for the years 1896, 1914, 1928, 1933, 1938, 1992 and 2010 (for sources see the sources and methods file).
Sample size for each year:
1896: N= 211
1914: N= 346
1928: N= 377
1933: N= 405
1938: N= 363
1992: N= 614
2010: N= 252
For the years 1914, 1928, 1933, 1938 and 1992 a standardized firm sample of size N=250 has been selected. Firms have been sorted according to the size of their share capital. 1896 has been chosen as the first sample year. 1896 is the first year for which complete data for the largest public German corporations are available (Publisher: Hoppenstedt). For the year 1896, it was not possible to collect a sample of 250 firms because of the small size of many German firms.
The names and titles (education, nobility, etc.) of all members of the management and supervisory board are derived from various handbooks and other sources (see the sources and methods file).
Also part of this data set are samples of the largest US-firms for the years 1900, 1914, 1928, 1938, 1992 (for sources see the sources and methods file).
Sample size for each year:
1900: N= 250
1914: N= 242
1928: N= 369
1938: N= 408
1992: N= 500
For the years 1928, 1938 and 1992 a standardized firm sample of size N=250 has been selected. Firms have been sorted according to the size of their share capital.
Information about the members of Board of Directors are derived from various sources (see the sources and methods file).
