The Politics of Purity

Harvey Washington Wiley and the Origins of Federal Food Policy

Business & Finance, Economics, Nonfiction, History, Americas, United States, Social & Cultural Studies, Political Science
Cover of the book The Politics of Purity by Clayton Anderson Coppin, Jack C. High, University of Michigan Press
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Clayton Anderson Coppin, Jack C. High ISBN: 9780472027255
Publisher: University of Michigan Press Publication: August 10, 2010
Imprint: University of Michigan Press Language: English
Author: Clayton Anderson Coppin, Jack C. High
ISBN: 9780472027255
Publisher: University of Michigan Press
Publication: August 10, 2010
Imprint: University of Michigan Press
Language: English

Spearheaded by Harvey Washington Wiley, the Pure Food and Drugs Act of 1906 launched the federal regulation of food and drugs in the United States. Wiley is often lauded as a champion of public interest for bringing about a law that required healthful ingredients and honest labeling. Clayton Coppin and Jack High demonstrate, however, that Wiley was in fact surreptitiously allied with business firms that would benefit from regulation and moreover, that the law would help him build his government agency, the Federal Bureau of Chemistry.

Coppin and High discuss such issues as Wiley's efforts to assign the law's enforcement to his own bureau. They go on to expose the selectivity of Wiley's enforcement of the law, in which he manipulated commercial competition in order to reward firms that supported him and penalize those that opposed him. By examining the history of the law's movement, the authors show that, rather than acting in the public interest, Wiley used the Pure Food and Drugs Act to further his own power and success. Finally, they analyze government regulation itself as the outcome of two distinct competitive processes, one that takes place in the market, the other in the polity.

The book will interest scholars concerned with government regulation, including those in economics, political science, history, and business.

Clayton Coppin is a management consultant and historian, Koch Industries, Wichita. Jack High is Professor of Economics, George Mason University.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Spearheaded by Harvey Washington Wiley, the Pure Food and Drugs Act of 1906 launched the federal regulation of food and drugs in the United States. Wiley is often lauded as a champion of public interest for bringing about a law that required healthful ingredients and honest labeling. Clayton Coppin and Jack High demonstrate, however, that Wiley was in fact surreptitiously allied with business firms that would benefit from regulation and moreover, that the law would help him build his government agency, the Federal Bureau of Chemistry.

Coppin and High discuss such issues as Wiley's efforts to assign the law's enforcement to his own bureau. They go on to expose the selectivity of Wiley's enforcement of the law, in which he manipulated commercial competition in order to reward firms that supported him and penalize those that opposed him. By examining the history of the law's movement, the authors show that, rather than acting in the public interest, Wiley used the Pure Food and Drugs Act to further his own power and success. Finally, they analyze government regulation itself as the outcome of two distinct competitive processes, one that takes place in the market, the other in the polity.

The book will interest scholars concerned with government regulation, including those in economics, political science, history, and business.

Clayton Coppin is a management consultant and historian, Koch Industries, Wichita. Jack High is Professor of Economics, George Mason University.

More books from University of Michigan Press

Cover of the book Value Change in Global Perspective by Clayton Anderson Coppin, Jack C. High
Cover of the book The Remarkable Rise of Transgender Rights by Clayton Anderson Coppin, Jack C. High
Cover of the book Aesthetics of Discomfort by Clayton Anderson Coppin, Jack C. High
Cover of the book Acts of Authority/Acts of Resistance by Clayton Anderson Coppin, Jack C. High
Cover of the book The Jurisprudence of Emergency by Clayton Anderson Coppin, Jack C. High
Cover of the book Entrepreneurial Seoulite by Clayton Anderson Coppin, Jack C. High
Cover of the book All International Politics Is Local by Clayton Anderson Coppin, Jack C. High
Cover of the book Early Start by Clayton Anderson Coppin, Jack C. High
Cover of the book The Price of Racial Reconciliation by Clayton Anderson Coppin, Jack C. High
Cover of the book Defending Diversity by Clayton Anderson Coppin, Jack C. High
Cover of the book After the Nazi Racial State by Clayton Anderson Coppin, Jack C. High
Cover of the book Roman Artists, Patrons, and Public Consumption by Clayton Anderson Coppin, Jack C. High
Cover of the book Marx Went Away--But Karl Stayed Behind by Clayton Anderson Coppin, Jack C. High
Cover of the book Coalition Politics and Cabinet Decision Making by Clayton Anderson Coppin, Jack C. High
Cover of the book Rhymin' and Stealin' by Clayton Anderson Coppin, Jack C. High
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy