The Politics of Air Pollution: Urban Growth, Ecological Modernization, and Symbolic Inclusion

The book explores the unexpected influence of locally oriented economic elites on clean air policy in the United States, challenging the notion that federal government or environmental groups lead this movement. George A. Gonzalez highlights how coalitions of landholders, developers, and regional media and utility owners advocate for clean air initiatives primarily to enhance investment climates, boost land values, and expand local consumer bases, revealing a complex interplay between economic interests and environmental policy.