ABSTRACT
This chapter describes that the United States contains three types of major political subdivisions: fifty quasi- sovereign states, each with its own constitution, legislature and judiciary; a few less-autonomous overseas territories and possessions, not relevant to the present discussion; and the Quality Brands Association of America is currently mustering support for a proposed 'Quality Stabilisation Law', now pending before a Congressional committee. Much of the support for the unfair practices acts came from the grocery trade. American grocers, somewhat in contrast to many of their British counterparts, have tended to be unenthusiastic or ambivalent towards rpm. Consequently the critical element in each programme of price maintenance is the extent to which the manufacturer is willing, or can be induced, to police and litigate his resale prices. Although some national brands seemed relatively impervious to competition from private brands, prescribed resale prices for other grocery products would have handicapped the independents in competing with the chains.
