The fact that corporate money is seeking to influence public policy is nothing unusual. From the different ways of how private money helps to shape politics the first, and most familiar is direct campaign contributions to political candidates and parties, which is especially widespread in the United States. While the second great river of money goes to underwrite lobbying apparatus in diverse state capitals, the third form of attempts to influence public policy making is less well-known, but nearly as wide and deep as the two others - it is money which underwrites a vast network of public policy think tanks and advocacy groups. Although tried to be labeled in another way, unmistakably, these donations are naked attempts by corporations and other donors, to influence the political process.
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The London-based Institute for Economic Affairs (AEI) from its beginning undertook an extensive publishing program to push forward its free-market ideology. Among its publications was one particular paper, which had a direct and immediate political impact. Published in 1960 "Resale Price Maintenance and Shoppers' Choice" by Basil Yamey argued for the abolition of Resale Price Maintenance, which by fixing prices in shops prevented large stores from necessarily under-cutting smaller shops. Yamey argued that a free market in shop prices would save the shoppers £180,000,000 a year, and prices would fall by five percent.
The publication of Yamey's paper was timed to coincide with a period of public debate on the subject to ensure maximum impact, and Yamey's suggestions were taken up by the incumbent Conservative Government. Although the Abolition of Resale Price Maintenance by
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American holding company incorporated on Oct. 7, 1968, which owns Bank of America National Trust and Savings Association (incorporated Nov. 3, 1930) and several subsidiaries engaged in financial services, insurance, real estate, investment management, computer leasing, and other banking-related services. Bank of America NT & SA has some 1,400 branches in California and operates subsidiary banks and financial institutions in several other U.S. states and in Europe, Latin America, and the Far East. It is one of the world's largest banks in assets. Headquarters for both BankAmerica Corporation and Bank of America NT & SA are in San Francisco.
Comprehensive insurance provider. Covers health, automobile, life, homeowners, and farmers services. State Farm Insurance Companies' corporate headquarters are in Bloomington, Ill. Today there are 27 regional offices and more than 1,000 claim service centers. State Farm has grown to include 76,500 employees and more than 16,000 agents servicing 66.2 million policies in the United States and Canada.