Growth rates before introduction of corporations?

[Schrödinger's Cat]

I'm trying to research growth patterns in regions prior to the introduction of corporations through legal means. Does anyone know of a market economy that - for whatever reason - didn't have corporate involvement? The only example I can think of is the Americas, but state charters existed..

The reason I ask is because I would like to see if corporations have a negative or positive affect on our economy. All I've come across is this little chart:

http://www.efficientfrontier.com/ef/902/us-uk.gif

[GPDP]

Huh, that's odd. The lines start to get real squiggly around the time that corporations were given legal personhood, if I am not mistaken.

Anyway, look up Iceland. I believe some ancaps hold it up for some reason.

[Die Neue Zeit]

I'm sure the growth was lower. The whole point of the corporation is to get more access to capital. The "legal person" mechanism ensures that potential investors don't get scared off by any potential for creditors coming after their own personal assets.

Percent-wise, keep in mind that the relevant period was one that had a "low base."

[GPDP]

Percent-wise, keep in mind that the relevant period was one that had a "low base."

What do you mean?

[Schrödinger's Cat]

Huh, that's odd. The lines start to get real squiggly around the time that corporations were given legal personhood, if I am not mistaken.

Anyway, look up Iceland. I believe some ancaps hold it up for some reason.

I think there aren't strong numbers for that time period, or the list is incomplete. Depressions were commonplace all throughout the 19th century.

Iceland was mostly communal. It actually turned into a quasi-dictatorship when more property came into being.

The reason I ask all this is because it would be interesting if the government's assistance to corporations actually bolstered growth. Do markets need positive capitalist involvement? If so, "free markets" are a myth.