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What statistical evidence says so?

The oldest large tech companies have mere 50 years, and they still seem to do more or less fine (eg, IBM, Apple, Microsoft).

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yes, but you're looking backwards and seeing which companies survived. This is very different from looking forward and predicting which companies will survive.

OK then. Give us some statistical evidence from the future.

No, he is suggesting you take large companies from 50 years ago and see how they are doing. If you take companies that are around today it's going to look like 100% of companies stick around or are bought out and the only question is for how long.

Right uh, sorry.

We're so young as a society. Wake me when google's 1500 years old.

Such argument refutes everything but churches.

If we are talking about institutions still in place today of 1000+ year age, there are examples such as the Japanese empire (started BC) and the Danish kingdom (started in the 10th century).

Not really several are well on their way http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_oldest_companies.

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