This book analyses the business, geography and politics of shopkeeping in Milan between 1886 and 1922.

Introduction: Shopkeeping as a historical problem; 1. The business of shopkeeping in Milan 1859¿1915; 2. The context of shopkeeping: trades and techniques; 3. The economic geography of shopkeeping: the role of the dazio consumo; 4. The esercenti enter the political arena; 5. Constructing the esercenti movement 1886¿1890; 6. The esercenti and the Depression 1890¿1897; 7. Shopkeepers, cooperatives and the politics of privilege; 8. Milan and the national small business movement 1886¿1898; 9. The allargamento debate 1895¿1897; 10. The end of century crisis and the enlargement of the dazio belt; 11. Shopkeeping in the new century; 12. Labour relations and class politics; 13. The esercenti and the centre-left administration 1900¿1905; 14. Shopkeepers and socialists; Conclusion: Identity and autonomy.