Library:Fraud: An American History from Barnum to Madoff
| Fraud: An American History from Barnum to Madoff | |
|---|---|
| Author | Edward J. Balleisen |
| First published | 2017 |
| ISBN | — |
| Role | Analysis |
| Domains | Business, Finance & Scams History |
| Tactics | Fraud or Scam |
Fraud: An American History from Barnum to Madoff is a 2017 book by Edward J. Balleisen.
Summary
Duke University historian Edward Balleisen traces business fraud in the United States from the 19th century to the 2008 financial crisis, and the long struggle to define and regulate it.
Key points
- Caveat emptor. Early American law left buyers largely responsible for protecting themselves.
- Building protection. Balleisen follows the rise of mail fraud laws, Better Business Bureaus, securities regulation and consumer protection agencies.
- Deregulation. He argues that weakening of oversight from the 1970s onward created new openings for fraud.
Relevance to Bullshitopedia
The book provides historical context for the frauds and scams documented in Bullshitopedia's Business, Finance and Scams domain.