The Privatization of Roads and Highways: Human and Economic Factors

With backing from the libertarian Cato Institute, Block (economics, Loyola U., New Orleans) argues that turning over control of US roads from the government to the private sector would improve roads and reduce traffic fatalities. In support of his thesis, the author explains how free market road transportation would work. E.g., congestion road pricing is one solution being taken seriously by mainstream planners. He responds to objections to his proposal by several critics, taking a detour to urge Mothers Against Drunk Driving to change its means toward its laudable goals. The book includes an interview with the author by Canadian libertarians, trend data on street/highway fatalities, and portions from earlier works. Annotation ©2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)