And local Internet companies complain there's a lack of venture capital to finance tomorrow's great enterprises. A slowing economy has intensified the pressure to shape up, sell out like Outboard Marine or close down like Wards. Perhaps even more troublesome is that even Chicago's strengths might be making it vulnerable. That, in turn, makes them prime targets. There is evidence that merger mania is slowing with the economy.
Tight money means fewer loans for leveraged buyouts.
To be fair, while Chicago has slipped compared to 10 years ago, it has leveled off in recent years with about the same number of big corporations locally based. And some local corporations are in acquisition mode. And Oak Brook-based McDonald's Corp. has been buying sandwich chains, Mexican restaurants and other food service businesses. And the area's reliance on businesses with fewer than 300 employees may leave it less vulnerable to depressions and deep recessions than in the past, experts say. But the area has great strengths too, he said.