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A c k n o w l e d g m e n t s Funding for this project was received from the National Science Foundation (SES-0751577, administered by the National Bureau for Economic Research); the Berkley Center for Entrepreneurial Studies at the Stern School of Business , New York University; the Virginia Historical Society in Richmond, Virginia ; the Filson Historical Society in Louisville, Kentucky; and the Nef Family Foundation in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Brian Cheffins, Cambridge University; Timothy Guinanne, Yale University ; Perry Hanavan, Augustana College (South Dakota); Leslie Hannah, London School of Economics and Political Science; Eric Hilt, Wellesley College; Dan Holt, Federal Judicial Center; Doug Irwin, Dartmouth College; Christopher Kingston, Amherst College; Jonathan Koppell, Arizona State University; Naomi Lamoreaux, Yale University; Pauline Maier, MIT; Brian Murphy, Baruch College; Johann Neem, Western Washington University; Robin Pearson, Hull University; Richard Sylla, Stern School of Business, NYU; and John Wallis , University of Maryland all provided valuable comments on the manuscript or related cognates such as conference papers and book chapters. Two anonymous reviewers procured by the publisher also deserve thanks for improving the book with their extensive comments. Any remaining errors remain the author’s sole responsibility. ...

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