ABSTRACT
This chapter addresses the consequences of governmental regulation and deregulation on the economies of the United States Pacific Northwest. The interest in deregulation has in part arisen due to perceived and real inefficiencies in existing social and economic regulations. Supporters of deregulation argue that eliminating or reforming regulations will reduce costs, improve profits, increase jobs, and result in lower prices to consumers. Positive impacts from deregulation have been reported widely in the transportation industry, especially in truck and air transportation. Impacts of rail deregulation also are mixed. Railroad mileage has decreased substantially since its peak in 1916 and continued to decline after deregulation in 1980. Branch-line abandonments, made easier by deregulation, also have been of great concern to a number of communities, particularly those in remote areas. Considerable research shows that deregulation of transportation has had positive economic impacts at the national level.
