Main Concepts of American business

«The business of America is business», said President Cal­vin Coolidge (1923-1929) and these words remain true today. The principle aim of business is to make financial profit.

There exist in the United States two main kinds of business institutions - private and governmental. Private businesses in­clude large companies whose capital is represented in shares, which are held by individual shareholders who earn dividends from their shares. In addition, there are non-profit institutions. These are called charitable organizations. Americans tend to have more respect for private businesses than for government agencies which they consider more bureaucratic.

Americans believe that in private business they can express ideals of free competition, individual freedom and equality of opportunity. But many Americans understand that very often business does not live up to these principles. There are some problems in realizing the high ideals of fair business practice. One of them is unequal starting opportunities. It is obviously easier for someone who already possesses considerable capital to begin a business venture than it is someone who does not. But nevertheless the legend of the poor boy who rises «from rags to riches», the entrepreneur who creates something out of nothing still exists in America. The entrepreneur who loves individual freedom and independence from authority, who built the industrial riches of the nation is the symbol of hero businessman.

In the course of time a new type of businessman appeared This is the «organization man» who works within already estab­lished structure and is at the top. But unlike the entrepreneur he shares responsibility with others. Though in America today the road to success lies often through established large business, the entrepreneurial ideal inspires many. A great number of small businesses exist in the USA today. There are a lot of companies with fewer than 20 employees. These companies account 60% of American business. Today most Americans believe that the free-enterprise system based on profit - making is the one that best promotes welfare of the nation.