Sidney A. Shapiro, a law professor specializing in administrative law, and Joseph P. Tomain, Dean Emeritus with a focus on energy and regulatory policy, discuss how government has been key to America's development despite rising anti-government sentiments. They tackle the balance between individualism and communal interests throughout history, examining figures from Lincoln to Trump. The conversation critiqued market myths and emphasized the need for government intervention in economic fairness, while also reflecting on the complexities of globalization and shifting political ideologies.
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insights INSIGHT
Two Visions of America
Two visions of America exist: the individualistic cowboy and the communal Mr. Smith.
Both visions are myths because America is a blend of market individualism and government's communal interests.
insights INSIGHT
Balancing American Values
American values like liberty and fairness are not solely tied to markets or government.
The ideal blend of both systems supports these values while addressing each system's limitations.
insights INSIGHT
Government's Role in Markets
Complex markets cannot function without government intervention.
Governments define property, enforce contracts, and invest in public goods like roads and schools.
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How Government Built America provides a comprehensive analysis of the intertwined relationship between government and markets in shaping the United States. The book challenges the notion that government is inherently detrimental to economic growth, demonstrating how government intervention has been crucial in building infrastructure, regulating markets, and providing social safety nets. The authors trace this dynamic through key historical periods and pivotal figures, highlighting both successes and failures. By examining this complex interplay, the book offers valuable insights into the ongoing debate about the optimal balance between government and market forces in fostering economic prosperity and social well-being. Ultimately, it advocates for a nuanced understanding of the essential role of government in a thriving society.
How Government Built America (Cambridge UP, 2024) challenges growing, anti-government rhetoric by highlighting the role government has played in partnering with markets to build the United States. Sidney A. Shapiro and Joseph P. Tomain explore how markets can harm and fail the country, and how the government has addressed these extremes by restoring essential values to benefit all citizens. Without denying that individualism and small government are part of the national DNA, the authors demonstrate how democracy and a people pursuing communal interests are equally important. In highly engaging prose, the authors describe how the government, despite the complexity of markets, remains engaged in promoting economic prosperity, protecting people, and providing an economic safety net. Each chapter focuses on a historical figure, from Lincoln to FDR to Trump, to illustrate how the government-market mix has evolved over time. By understanding this history, readers can turn the national conversation back to what combination of government and markets will best serve the country.
Sidney A. Shapiro holds the Fletcher Chair in Administrative Law at the Wake Forest University School of Law. He is the author of Administrative Competence: Reimagining Administrative Law (2020) and Achieving Democracy: The Future of Progressive Regulation (2014).
Joseph P. Tomain is Dean Emeritus and the Wilbert and Helen Ziegler Professor of Law at the University of Cincinnati. A highly respected professor and scholar, his teaching and research interests focus in the areas of energy law, land use, regulatory policy, and contracts.
Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube channel. Twitter.
New Books in Economic and Business History