Fraud: An American History from Barnum to Madoff

  Because of entrepreneurial freedom and competitive pressures, fraud has been a key feature of American business from its beginnings. In Fraud: An American History from Barnum to Madoff (Princeton University Press) Belleisen presents the history of fraud in America, from P.T. Barnum to Charles Ponzi, tracing the construction and deconstruction of regulatory institutions to protect consumers and investors.