THE TRADE ASSOCIATION AND ITS PLACE IN THE BUSINESS FABRIC.

The article discusses the activities of trade associations in the United States. The author first looks at a history of trade associations and how they have been historically known to restrict trade. However, they have been increasing in numbers since the middle of the 19th century, and with the implementation of federal antitrust laws, the scope of their activities have changed. Some of the activities that these associations are now involved in include commercial and industrial research, standardization and simplification in industry, and the study and installation of cost accounting systems, among other things which are described in the text. The author also includes some of the competitive illegal activities which still exist, and relations within the trade associations.