A fundamental process of capitalism, popularized by Joseph Schumpeter, in which the benefits of growth and prosperity induced by innovations also result in the costs of disrupting existing means of production. The creation of new activity involves the destruction of existing activity. This notion attributes business-cycle instability to innovations, including both the expansionary rise of prosperity, as well as a contractionary decline. Creative destruction is based on the idea that rather than tending toward equilibrium, the economy is largely in flux. A key question is one of cause and effect. Does innovation cause destruction or does destruction induce innovation?

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In the same mini-mall with Dr. Nova Cain's dental offices and Smilin' Ted's All Comers Insurance Agency, resides Manny Mustard's House of Sandwiches -- one of those small, out-of-the-way, off-the-wall sorts of restaurants that has great food, excellent service, and plenty of atmosphere. Manny, the proprietor, is a good friend of mine who's struggling to turn his dream of restauranteering into reality. His restauranteering dream doesn't stop with one small, out-of-the-way, off-the-way restaurant with great food, excellent service, and atmosphere. No, Manny is shooting for a nation-wide chain of Manny Mustard's House of Sandwiches. He wants to go from being an overworked, underappreciated member of the third estate to a member of the second estate who overworks and underappreciates others. To help out my good friend Manny, let's take a long, hard look at the differences between small business and the larger, Fortune 500 kind.
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Today, you are likely to spend a great deal of time looking for the new strip mall out on the highway wanting to buy either a replacement remote control for your television or a replacement nozzle for your shower. Be on the lookout for cardboard boxes.
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