Declining Industry and Public Trust at the Local Level: Elizabeth Elder on America’s “Company Towns”

What happens when an industry-dominant “company town” loses its primary employer? In the case of those parts of America once reliant upon coal companies to provide work and literally run small mining towns, Hoover fellow Elizabeth Elder has found economic hardship and a disturbing loss of confidence in democracy and institutions. It's all chronicled in her new book, "Company Towns: Industry Power and the Historical Foundations of Public Mistrust." Learn more: https://www.hoover.org/research/declining-industry-and-public-trust-local-level-elizabeth-elder-americas-company-towns?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=mpp_youtube&utm_content=05142026 __________ The opinions expressed on this channel are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Hoover Institution or Stanford University. © 2026 by the Board of Trustees of Leland Stanford Junior University. 🔔 Subscribe for more discussions: @HooverInstitution 👍 Like and share this video! 🌐 Follow us on social media: • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HooverInstStanford • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hoover-institution-at-stanford-university • Instagram: https://instagram.com/hooverinstitution • TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hooverinstitution • X: https://www.twitter.com/HooverInst