Taking off: Category contrast and organizational mortality in the UK airline industry, 1919-64

Abstract

This study analyzes the role of Category contrast in the context of an emerging industry. The level of contrast, the degree to which a category stands out from its background, appears to be an important aspect of the legitimation process, but as of yet poorly understood. The article explores three potential roles: as providing legitimacy to the category as such, as allowing for legitimacy spillovers to peripheral members, and as strengthening density-dependent legitimation. The study investigates these potential roles using longitudinal data on organizational naming patterns in the early passenger airline industry in the United Kingdom. © The Author(s) 2013.