Taking stock and moving forward: what makes a contribution in business history?

This editorial reflects on the research published in Business History in the last few years in the context of wider discussions in the field of business history. In particular, we consider the authors and their thematic orientation, reflection on the geographic and disciplinary distribution and gender balance in the field. Articles published cluster around specific time periods, countries and regions, with early modern or medieval history, and research beyond Europe and North America less well represented. On the basis of this survey, we consider the journal’s recently changed aims and scope and what we see as a contribution to knowledge in business history. We particularly consider the role of theory in historical research and affirm our commitment to a range of relevant contributions in the journal. These are empirical, historiographical and theoretical in nature, and support our strategy to maintain Business History as a journal publishing interdisciplinary and diverse research.