Government Advertising: A Runaway Engine?

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Abstract
The rapid growth in recent years of government expenditures for advertising and related activities suggests to the writers that it is time for the American people to consider what constraints, if any, should be placed on government advertising activities. Aside from the massive size of the expenditures (over $100 million for paid advertising and several times that for other “information” annually), this activity raises several problems not present with advertising by commercial firms. 1) It spends taxpayers' money to achieve goals contrary to the interests of some of those taxpayers. 2) It lacks review and regulation to encourage truth and discourage fraud. 3) It need not meet any test of economic efficiency. While some government advertising is both proper and necessary it is possible that unrestrained advertising and massive budgets are a combination which could weaken the foundation of our political system.

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