Title
Testing the Regulatory Threat Hypothesis: Media Coverage of the Energy Crisis and Petroleum Pricing in the Late 1970s
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
4-1989
Department
International Business and Management
Language
English
Publication Title
American Politics Research
Abstract
We argue that during the 1979 oil crisis major domestic oil companies held down price increases of politically sensitive oil products relative to their foreign counterparts to reduce the probability of adverse government action. To test this "regulatory threat" hypothesis, we compare the reaction of unregulated fuel oil prices to political pressure. We measure political pressure with the level of U.S. television coverage of energy issues. We find that media coverage influenced U.S. home heating oil prices charged by domestic oil companies, but not foreign oil companies. In contrast, for the less politically sensitive residual fuel oil, media coverage did not influence prices of either domestic or foreign oil companies.
Recommended Citation
Erfle, Stephen, Henry McMillan, and Bernard Grofman. "Testing the Regulatory Threat Hypothesis: Media Coverage of the Energy Crisis and Petroleum Pricing in the Late 1970s." American Politics Research 17, no. 2 (1989): 132-52.
Comments
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