Georgian Liverpool's battle for the Big Society.

The article presents an examination into the history of the late 18th-century English city of Liverpool, its commercial sector, and its parallels to contemporary 21st-century efforts by the British government to promote local economic partnerships in its "Big Society" initiative. The founding of an early chamber of commerce in Liverpool in 1773 is described in depth, noting both its early successes and its setbacks. Additional subjects addressed include trade duties, the chamber's committee structure, and the role of Liverpool in the Coalition government's plans in 2011.