MOTOR CARRIER ENTRY REGULATION

established interdisciplinary research on policy problems as the core of its educational program. A major part of this program is the nine-month policy research project, in the course of which two to three faculty members from different disciplines direct the research of ten to twenty graduate students of diverse backgrounds on a policy issue of concern to an agency of government. This "client orientation " brings the students face to face with adminis-trators, legislators, and other officials active in the policy process, and demonstrates that research in a policy environ-ment demands special talents. It also illuminates the occasional difficulties of relating research findings to the world of political realities. This report on motor carrier entry regulation in Texas was produced as part of a policy research project on trans-portation conducted at the LBJ School in the academic year 1976-77. The study examines the background and process of motor carrier entry regulation in this state, presents a theoretical framework for evaluating the need for regulation, and then makes recommendations for reform to the Transportation Committee of the Texas House of Representatives. It should be noted that the LBJ School does not function as an advocate of the policies discussed in this report. It is the intention of the LBJ School both to develop men and women with the capacity to perform effectively in public service and to produce research which will.enlighten and inform those already engaged in the policy process. The project which resulted in this report has helped to accomplish the former; it is our hope and expec-tation that the report itself will contribute to the latter