NCJ Number
15515
Date Published
1969
Length
409 pages
Annotation
DESCRIPTION OF THE EXTENT AND NATURE OF PRICE AND RATIONING VIOLATIONS BY AMERICAN BUSINESSMEN, CRIMINALS, AND AVERAGE CITIZENS DURING WORLD WAR TWO.
Abstract
THIS STUDY EMPHASIZES THE BLACK MARKET ACTIVITIES RELATING TO MEAT, GASOLINE, AND RENT. THE AUTHOR DETAILS, IN THE CASE OF GASOLINE, THE EXTENSIVE COLLUSION THAT EXISTED BETWEEN FILLING STATION OPERATORS AND PROFESSIONAL CRIMINALS WHO SOLD THEM STOLEN AND COUNTERFEIT RATION CURRENCY. HOW THE GOVERNMENT TRIED TO CONTROL THE BLACK MARKET AND THE MISTAKES IT MADE ARE DISCUSSED. THE AVERAGE CITIZEN'S ATTITUDES TOWARD THE BLACK MARKET ARE ALSO DESCRIBED. THE AUTHOR OFFERS SOME OBSERVATIONS ON THE RELATIVE BLAME OF GOVERNMENT, BUSINESS, AND THE PUBLIC, AND DISCUSSES THE IMPLICATIONS OF THESE PAST EXPERIENCES FOR FUTURE NATIONAL EMERGENCIES. A LARGE PART OF THE DATA FOR THIS BOOK WAS OBTAINED FROM CASE RECORDS, FIELD REPORTS, AND ADMINISTRATIVE ORDERS DURING THE THREE YEARS THE AUTHOR WORKED WITH THE ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT OF THE OFFICE OF PRICE ADMINISTRATION. THE APPENDIX CONTAINS A CLASSIFICATION OF PRICE, RENT, AND RATIONING VIOLATIONS AS OF 1944. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS ALSO INCLUDED.