20th Annual Student Research Conference
Social Science
The Native Latex Commercialization and
Economic Development Act of 1978:
Idea, Action, Policy, Evolution
Christopher N. Bell
Dr. Candy Young, Faculty Mentor
Guayule has captured the attention of the federal government for many decades. It has sparked a federal research policy to solve the problems of rising rubber prices, strategic rubber stockpile shortages, and regional development. This Diachronic interpretive case study examines government documents to test the accuracy of several public policy models when applied to an actual policy. The case study examines federal guayule research policy from its agenda-setting through its implementation and evolution. The Native Latex Commercialization and Economic Development Act of 1978 confirm Kingdon’s model of agenda setting, the effective implementation scenario presented by Mazmanian and Sabatier, and the incremental model of implementation. The research produced by the Native Latex Commercialization and Economic Development Act of 1978 has fostered a domestic natural rubber industry and resulted in a new application of guayule in hypoallergenic latex products.
Keywords: Guayule, Policy, latex, commercialization, development
Topic(s):Political Science
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 49-3
Location: VH 1412
Time: 1:45 pm