General motors Quote by James T. Patterson
““GM had assets greater than those of Argentina and revenues eight times those of New York State. (Defense Secretary Wilson had had a point in saying that "what was good for our country was good for General Motors, and vice versa.")””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Rise of the American Economy, James T. Patterson, 1995
The quote highlights how GM’s massive size made its fortunes tightly linked to national interests, suggesting corporate health reflects national health.
In simple terms: Big companies can mirror a country’s fortunes.
Key Takeaway
Consider how corporate health signals national well‑being.
Themes
economics
politics
corporate power
national interest
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
observational
historical
When to use this quote
- policy analysis
- investment decisions
- public discourse
- economic forecasting
Key Concepts
industrial capitalism
economic interdependence
Questions to Reflect On
- How does corporate size affect national policy?
- Can a single company truly represent a nation’s economy?
A Different Perspective
Corporations can also act independently of national trends, limiting the analogy.
