Author: Theodore MacKlin

Publisher: Theclassics.Us

Published: 2013-09

Total Pages: 138

ISBN-13: 9781230343150

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1922 edition. Excerpt: ... chapter xix government authority in relation to marketing Improvement in marketing is closely associated with government activity of some kind. Public interest is divided in this matter, some advocating that government authority be used to finance and operate Federal or state owned marketing enterprises while others contend that the state plays its part best as an alert, decisive, but unbiased umpire. In a measure, both of these claims are reasonable. Under practical conditions the question arises as to which service the government must render first. The answer rests upon the fundamental conception which people hold regarding individual effort versus government responsibility as a means of doing the work of marketing. Farm products are handled, and under any conceivable system will continue to be handled, by numerous local business units on many different steps. In their business relations these middlemen develop a competitive struggle which must be regulated in the interests of efficiency and public welfare. Regulation is hopeless without an umpire to judge the character of competition in the light of definite standards. Both standards and umpire are useless without the power to enforce decisions. For these reasons if the government does anything it must develop fully the characteristics of a helpful umpire. This is a service which individual effort cannot provide. Under any circumstances it is a necessary duty of the government to all of its constituency. Furthermore, in acting as the umpire, government authority with its tremendous power representing diverse interests, is not obliged to compete with individuals whose power and scope of action are relatively small. The fundamental functions of government in relation to the marketing of...