ABSTRACT
Peter Rabbit does not exist. He is a fiction. His material existence amounts to a small quantity of ink, paint and paper.
And yet, Peter Rabbit is an industrial reality. His existence, virtual though it may be at one level, fills lines on balance sheets and employs workers in many countries. He affects the price of shares on the stock market; his image provides wages for attendants in museums and exhibitions. He supports a substantial tourist industry and provides a major boost to the National Trust of Britain.
