What is "jawboning"

jawbone \jaw"bone`\ (j[add]"b[=o]n`), v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. jawboned (j[add]"b[=o]nd`); p. pr. & vb. n. jawboning.] To attempt to influence solely by talking, as contrasted with threatening or inducing by other means, e.g. legislation; esp. to make public appeals in order to influence the behavior of businessmen or labor leaders; -- used especially of the President or other high government officials; as, to jawbone businessmen into forgoing price increases. [1913 Webster] -- jaw"bon*ing, n.

n. Persistent persuasive talk. vb. (present participle of jawbone English)

The term jawboning has also been used to refer to Herbert Hoover's efforts to convince employers to keep wages high as prices fell during the Great Depression. While Hoover was successful in obtaining such agreements, they did little to alleviate unemployment. The term has been used more recently in other contexts. During the 2000 U.S. Presidential Election, George W. Bush criticized outgoing president Bill Clinton for not attempting to lower oil prices by "jawboning OPEC" to increase supply.

The Canadian-American economist J. K. Galbraith stated that "jawboning" was first used to describe the activities of the U.S. Office of Price Administration and Civilian Supply, formed in April 1941.