360 vs 383

A good question to discuss might be why in 1971-2 the factory engineers decided to drop the 383 in favor of the 400 and while turning it into a gas-guzzling pig (in stock form) or conversely, why was the 340 similarly replaced with a lower-performing but larger displacement engine?
EPA,SMOG,GOVERNMENT MANDATES. Had to go with lower compression,unleaded gas etc.
And yes a stock 78 400 was a pig and sucked gas. Best of 8 mpg.I had one in 1978. What a turd..