Paul W. Rhode

About the Author

Paul W. Rhode is a distinguished historian and economist whose scholarship illuminates the intersections of science, policy, and societal challenges in American history. A professor emeritus at the University of Michigan, Rhode has dedicated his career to exploring how economic forces and scientific advancements shape public responses to crises, from agricultural revolutions to health emergencies. His meticulous research draws on archival sources and quantitative analysis to reveal the human stories behind policy decisions. In Arresting Contagion: Science, Policy, and Conflicts over Animal Disease Control, Rhode examines the turbulent history of U.S. efforts to combat livestock epidemics in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, highlighting the clashes between federal authority, scientific innovation, and economic interests that continue to resonate in modern debates over disease management and regulation.