The Cotton Kings

Capitalism and Corruption in Turn-of-the-Century New York and New Orleans

By: Bruce E. Baker, Barbara Hahn

Narrated by: L. J. Ganser

In the second decade of the 21st century, many Americans feel they are subject to economic forces beyond their control. Some critics of today's economy compare it to the rampant inequality of the late 19th century, when robber barons manipulated the economy to their own benefit. Others object to the remedies that were applied in the early 20th century, insisting that markets work best when governed least. The Cotton Kings relates a colorful economic drama with striking parallels to contemporary American economic debates.

At the turn of the 20th century, dishonest cotton brokers used bad information to lower prices on the futures market, impoverishing millions of farmers. To fight this corruption, a small group of brokers sought to control the price of cotton on unregulated exchanges in New York and New Orleans. They triumphed, cornering the world market in cotton and raising its price for years. However, the structural problems of self-regulation by market participants continued to threaten the cotton trade until eventually political pressure inspired federal regulation. In the form of the Cotton Futures Act of 1914, the federal government stamped out corruption on the exchanges, helping millions of farmers and textile manufacturers.

Combining a gripping narrative with the controversial argument that markets work better when placed under federal regulation, The Cotton Kings brings to light a rarely told story that speaks directly to contemporary conflicts between free markets and regulation.

©2015 Oxford University Press (P)2015 Audible, Inc.

Great Lesson on History of Cotton - Ell Jay Lindsey

Hi, I’m Ell Jay Lindsey and This book is an excellent history lesson on the cotton trade and how markets have been working since the 1900’s. - Ell Jay Lindsey

Market micro-structure and regulation circa 1900

This is fine solid business history. It maps out the supply chain of cotton from farms in the post-Civil War US south into the world economy, and which players were able to manipulate information asymmetries and bottlenecks in supply to extract extra profits for themselves. The story plays out as a contest between regional players around these bottlenecks, and the emerging influence of federal regulators. There is a very basic introduction to futures contracts. There are plenty of comparisons that can be made to business today. The narrator as always is sharp and professional.

Comunistic Tripe

I thought I was going to get a history book. I did not expect a hit piece on capitalism. I understand that there can be abuses of capitalism - as in any system - but also understand that given the democratic nature of capitalism that the opportunities it provides are open to all. The opening page of the book makes agitations that are wholly incorrect and disparage middle class investors of both yesteryear and of today.