The Sugar Institute Learns to Organize Information Exchange

Posted: 21 Dec 1998

See all articles by David Genesove

David Genesove

Hebrew University of Jerusalem - Department of Economics; Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)

Wallace P. Mullin

George Washington University - Department of Economics

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: January 1997

Abstract

This paper describes information exchange under the Sugar Institute, the trade association of U.S. domestic sugar cane refiners, between 1928 and 1936. The Institute collected production and delivery data from the individual firms and returned it to them in aggregated form. Attempts to exchange sales data were stymied by the larger firms. Surprisingly, there is no indication of misreporting of statistics by Institute members, although statistics were, at times, withheld. The paper concentrates on the evolution of the Institute. Proposals for successor organizations show that a workable mechanism required greater discretion to the central authority and greater voting right to the larger firms.

JEL Classification: B00, L13

Suggested Citation

Genesove, David and Mullin, Wallace P., The Sugar Institute Learns to Organize Information Exchange (January 1997). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=139575

David Genesove (Contact Author)

Hebrew University of Jerusalem - Department of Economics ( email )

Mount Scopus
Jerusalem, 91905
Israel
+972 2 588 3128 (Phone)
+972 2 581 6071 (Fax)

Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)

London
United Kingdom

Wallace P. Mullin

George Washington University - Department of Economics ( email )

2201 G Street NW
Washington, DC 20052
United States

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