David Prindle received his Ph.D. in political science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1977. He is a professor in the Government Department at the University of Texas at Austin.

• Preface Part 1. Introduction 1. The Railroad Commission of Texas Part 2. Policy 2. Foundations, 1930–1935 3. The Ironies of Regulation, 1935–1950 4. The Balance Wheel, 1950–1965 5. Welcome to the Energy Crisis, 1965–1980 6. Policy and Its Consequences Part 3. Politics 7. Influence 8. Campaigns and Elections Part 4. The Ironies of Politics 9. Lessons Notes Index

A lively book about an obscure state regulatory body that, through an accident of geology and jurisdiction, wields enormous power in determining how oil and gas are produced and sold in this country. Prindle delights in pointing out the cozy relationship between the Texas Railroad Commission and the industries it regulates.... Prindle, who writes with a fine ability to make technical and economic issues interesting, is appalled by the free-market rhetoric so often mouthed by producers in recent years.... “Debate over government regulation takes place in a twilight zone between outright propaganda and cherished myth,” he writes.... (The Washington Monthly)

David Prindle received his Ph.D. in political science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1977. He is a professor in the Government Department at the University of Texas at Austin.

• Preface Part 1. Introduction 1. The Railroad Commission of Texas Part 2. Policy 2. Foundations, 1930–1935 3. The Ironies of Regulation, 1935–1950 4. The Balance Wheel, 1950–1965 5. Welcome to the Energy Crisis, 1965–1980 6. Policy and Its Consequences Part 3. Politics 7. Influence 8. Campaigns and Elections Part 4. The Ironies of Politics 9. Lessons Notes Index

A lively book about an obscure state regulatory body that, through an accident of geology and jurisdiction, wields enormous power in determining how oil and gas are produced and sold in this country. Prindle delights in pointing out the cozy relationship between the Texas Railroad Commission and the industries it regulates.... Prindle, who writes with a fine ability to make technical and economic issues interesting, is appalled by the free-market rhetoric so often mouthed by producers in recent years.... “Debate over government regulation takes place in a twilight zone between outright propaganda and cherished myth,” he writes.... (The Washington Monthly)

David Prindle received his Ph.D. in political science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1977. He is a professor in the Government Department at the University of Texas at Austin.

• Preface Part 1. Introduction 1. The Railroad Commission of Texas Part 2. Policy 2. Foundations, 1930–1935 3. The Ironies of Regulation, 1935–1950 4. The Balance Wheel, 1950–1965 5. Welcome to the Energy Crisis, 1965–1980 6. Policy and Its Consequences Part 3. Politics 7. Influence 8. Campaigns and Elections Part 4. The Ironies of Politics 9. Lessons Notes Index

A lively book about an obscure state regulatory body that, through an accident of geology and jurisdiction, wields enormous power in determining how oil and gas are produced and sold in this country. Prindle delights in pointing out the cozy relationship between the Texas Railroad Commission and the industries it regulates.... Prindle, who writes with a fine ability to make technical and economic issues interesting, is appalled by the free-market rhetoric so often mouthed by producers in recent years.... “Debate over government regulation takes place in a twilight zone between outright propaganda and cherished myth,” he writes.... (The Washington Monthly)