Brazilian Traction, Light and Power Company Limited, 1899--1919: A case study in the geography of financial capital.

摘要

Brazilian Traction, Light and Power Company Limited ("Brazilian Traction") was one of several Canadian companies that established electric streetcar, light and power utilities in developing countries during the period from the late 1890s up to the First World War. This thesis examines how these companies emerged on the international stage during this period of early globalization by analyzing Brazilian Traction, with a focus on the evolution of its financial structure based on research into primary sources on the company and its predecessors. It is argued that Canadian companies were able to play a more central role in the world economy by their unique ability to bring together new electric technology from the United States and surplus capital from Western Europe and apply them to developing countries. It is also argued that this early globalization was disrupted by the First World War and the resulting changes to the international finance system.