Wed May 12 15:34:00 EDT 1999
EHS Abstract Submission
(c) 1999 EH.Net
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Name: David Barker
Email: barkrich at msn.com
Institution: University of Chicago
Co-author:
Title: Was the Alaska Purchase a Good Deal?
Internet Address of abstracted work:
By mail: 519 S. Summit Street
Iowa City, Iowa 52240 USA
Language: English
Abstract:
The purchase of Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million, ridiculed in 1867 as
"Seward's Folly," is now viewed as a shrewd business deal. This paper
presents an estimate of cash flow from Alaska to the federal government
from 1867 to 1990 and finds that its net present value was less than the
purchase price. Kickbacks from Russia to U.S. legislators might have
influenced the purchase price.
Bibliography: Barker, David. "Was the Alaska Purchase a Good Deal?"
Working paper, January 1999.
Subject: I
Geographical Area: 7
Country/Region: ALASKA
Time Period: 7
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