The Causes and Effects of Deregulation

Beginning with railroad regulation in 1887 and continuing for eight decades, the U.S. Federal Government expanded its regulatory scope to cover key transportation, telecommunications and energy sectors. In the last quarter of the 20th century this long-term trend was abruptly and dramatically reversed as important sectors of the U.S. economy were deregulated. This important collection charts the causes and effects of this process. Alongside an original introduction, the carefully selected analyses provided in this volume consider the political and economic forces behind the elimination of regulatory authority and describe how this historic turnaround took place. Did the cessation of government control enable vigorous competition or promote stifling monopolies? The answers found here will inform debates surrounding the regulation of financial and information markets. This collection will be a valuable source of reference for anyone interested in the process of deregulation.