... by tinkering with hand-assembled machines in a home garage. A few expanded small businesses quickly into large, powerful corporations. Some 19 18application of information technology. Since ... bankruptcy. In the United States even well-known big businesses fail. Trans World Airlines, United Air Lines, Delta Air Lines, Northwest Airlines, US Airways, Continental Airlines, Eastern Airlines, ... accounting for major gains in productivity over the past decade. Governments set rules for buying, selling, and using capital.Individuals, corporations, universities, and other research institutions...