III. THE ANATOMY OF A “LEAP”

In the third part, is debunked the myth of private corporations allegedly exiting in Ancient Rome. Entrepreneurs did not seek to obtain this status, as, along with advantages, it was fraught with essential limitations restraining their initiative. The components of the request by private industrial business for a new type of enterprise combining the opportunity to pool capitals with internal freedom and limited liability are revealed. It is demonstrated that the elements of the novelty were the existed of yore union of co-owners and the borrowed from individual enterprise module “slave – peculium – free administration” as well as the principle of inseparability of the ownership of slave which as the key link joined them together. The fundamental distinctions of private share company and the fallacy of those trying to deny its very existence in Ancient Rome are brought out. It is explained why this novelty, in spite of its revolutionariness, was successfully introduced and took hold in economy. In conclusion, the author discovers the framework of social innovation and derives the general “formula” of viable novelty.

Keywords: novelty, innovation, corporation, private share company, Roman business