THE PROLIFERATION OF SPECIALIST ORGANIZATIONS IN THE AMERICAN-WINE-INDUSTRY, 1941-1990

To account for the proliferation of specialist organizations as indust ries mature, this paper examines the relative importance of four proce sses-density dependence in founding rates, niche formation through cha nges in consumer preferences, resource partitioning, and direct instit utional support-to explain the level and dispersion in foundings of sp ecialist organizations. Analyses of the founding rate of specialist or ganizations, farm wineries, over 1941-1990 reveal that state-level far m winery density has the strongest impact on both the level and disper sion of farm winery foundings. Density effects are followed by the eff ects of resource partitioning, institutional support, and niche format ion, in order of level of importance, and by the effects of niche form ation, institutional support, and resource partitioning, in order of t he importance to dispersion. The results suggest that factors such as density dependence and resource partitioning that are endogenous to a specific population need to be considered in combination with factors such as niche formation and changes in the institutional environment t hat are exogenous to the population to account adequately for the prol iferation of specialist organizations.