An explosion of wealth and population in early 19th-century New York prompted the Common (later City) Council to ask the State Legislature to establish a commission to "develop and choose a master plan to channel and direct" the city's future expansion.

WSJ: The Greatest Grid | Museum of the City of New York | Crosshatching a Miracle | By Ada Louise Huxtable

While customers clearly can and do develop relationships with brands and companies, even when they have no direct contact with any of its employees, our research suggests that something more fundamental is actually happening.

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Whereas in the past companies had to pitch in with substantail direct investment and resources to develop their business, they must now attract, assemble and manage a large community of independent third parties who must be prepared to take on significant business risk on behalf of the sponsor company.

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