Gas Pipelines and the Emergence of America's Regulatory State: A History of Panhandle Eastern Corporation, 1928–1993 (Studies in Economic History and Policy: USA in the Twentieth Century) - Hardcover

Castaneda, Christopher J.; Smith, Clarance M.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0521561663 ISBN 13: 9780521561662

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 1996

Synopsis

The study of Panhandle Eastern's history shows the relationship between regulatory policy and the modern corporation in the twentieth century from a unique perspective, for it extends over three eras in the growth of its industry and the US political economy. The first era, in which the interstate pipeline industry began, was characterised by minimal regulation or antitrust activity. Then, New Deal regulatory reforms subjected the firms to single industry regulation, but pipelines bought and sold gas and enjoyed a long period of expansion in spite of the increasingly complex regulations. Finally, the third era was characterised by regulatory failure, energy crises, regulatory change, and industry reorganisation as regulators took the traditional merchant function, that of buying and selling gas, from pipelines and transformed them into open access contract carriers.

About this title

Review

"...A well written history....Castaneda and Smith are skilled in providing brief sketches of Panhandle executives." Business History Review

"Gas Pipelines is a balanced and careful book that tells an important and thought-provoking story." Werner Troesken, The Journal of Economic History

"The history of Panhandle Eastern, clearly and sparsely delineated by Castaneda and Smith, provides exceptionally useful evidence of the dysfunctionality of federal energy regulation, largely reinforcing the earlier work of H.K. Vietor; provides a carefully researched case history of adaptation to changing regulatory and political environments; and together with earleir work, identifies Castaneda as the principal historian of a major industry." Roger M. Olien,The Journal of American History

"The authors' principle theme is the relationship between Panhandle's business strategy and the shifting regulatory environment in which it operated. They give a good account of the company side of the relationship. They conducted scores of interviews with present and past Panhandle employees and had unrestricted access to corporate archives. The result is a story both detailed and readable." Technology and Culture

Book Description

Panhandle Eastern's history shows the relationship between regulatory policy and the modern corporation. Entrepreneurs competed in an unregulated industry that became increasingly regulated and profitable, until finally in an era of business reorganization and deregulation, regulators changed the structure of the industry.

Edition details

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 1996
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0521561663
• ISBN 13: 9780521561662
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 322