Showing results for: “FTC policy statement unfair methods of competition”
Questionable Boston Scientific Press Release
This story in yesterday’s Boston Herald asserts that during the bidding war for Guidant between J&J and Boston Scientific (BSX), BSX “used highly questionable investment advice to swing the battle their way and give their stock a good ‘pop.’� Specifically, BSX put out a press release that quoted various Wall Street analysts endorsing the BSX ... Questionable Boston Scientific Press Release
The Ban on General Solicitation and Advertising
I blogged last week about the recommendations concerning Sarbanes-Oxley 404 adopted by the SEC Advisory Committee on Smaller Public Companies at a meeting on 12/14/05 (see here). The transcript of the meeting is now available on the SEC’s website (click here). Today I want to talk about a different recommendation adopted by the committee that ... The Ban on General Solicitation and Advertising
Nacchio’s Puzzling (Innovative?) Defense
An article in today’s W$J reports on former Qwest CEO Joseph Nacchio’s planned defense in a criminal insider trading action brought by the SEC. The defense is perplexing. The SEC has accused Nacchio of selling $101 million of Qwest stock while in possession of inside information that the firm wasn’t doing as well as its ... Nacchio’s Puzzling (Innovative?) Defense
Google Executive Compensation
In an SEC filing yesterday (click here), Google disclosed that in 2006 each of its top three executives, Eric Schmidt (CEO), Sergey Brin (President of Technology), and Larry Page (President of Products), will receive a base salary of $1.00, as they did in 2005. It’s not like they have historically gotten huge bonuses either. According ... Google Executive Compensation
Correcting "The Ethicist" on Insider Trading
In yesterday’s New York Times Magazine, an anonymous reader posed the following question to The Ethicist: I am a subspecialty physician without primary responsibility for patients. I consulted on the care of the C.E.O. of a major company, the seriousness of whose illness was not being fully disclosed to shareholders. I own stock in this ... Correcting "The Ethicist" on Insider Trading
If government is the problem, when is Google the solution?
Via the WSJblog, I see that Google and the government are tangling again over the government’s effort to obtain search records (this time relating to porn-viewing-by-children enforcement efforts) (I guess that should read anti-porn-viewing-by-children enforcement efforts). It reminds me of a post of Dan’s on Concurring Opinions from a while back that I wanted to ... If government is the problem, when is Google the solution?
Sarbanes-Oxley: Linux Users Beware
As you may have guessed from my previous posts, I’m not a big fan of Sarbanes-Oxley, so I generally appreciate the criticism it receives. Some of the criticism, however, is almost comical. Take for example Steve Ballmer’s statement last month: ”The Ballmer children do not have their Xbox 360 yet…Thanks to the wonders of Sarbanes-Oxley, ... Sarbanes-Oxley: Linux Users Beware
In international blog news
First, Joel Trachtman of Tufts’ (great and soon-to-be better) Fletcher School has started up a new international trade blog, called International Economic Law and Policy. If you know anything about international trade law and/or economics, you know Joel Trachtman and thus you know that this will be a must-read. He has been joined at the ... In international blog news
Coase and Smoking: Who’s the Victim Here?
Today’s New York Times reports on a new cigarette bar in Chicago, where the city council has just imposed a sweeping smoking ban. (I recently criticized the ban at Ideoblog.) The proprietors of the Marshall McGearty Tobacco Lounge insist that the lounge is permitted because of a loophole allowing smoking in retail tobacco shops. Not ... Coase and Smoking: Who’s the Victim Here?
Of Prices and Price Gouging
Price gouging regulations (PGRs) have been a popular topic of late in the blogosphere, particularly in the wake of increased post-Katrina (and Rita) gasoline prices. Becker and Posner make the now familiar economic case against PGRs here and here. The basic economic argument against PGRs is well tread ground which I will not repeat here. ... Of Prices and Price Gouging
On disclosure, a continuing series
We all know that our securities regulatory regime is predominantly a disclosure regime, meaning the regulators, for the most part, don’t impose substantive regulations on securities issuers, but require only accurate, timely disclosure of certain information. And as against a more intrusive, substantive regime, I think this is preferable, even in its current, fairly intrusive ... On disclosure, a continuing series
Alito and Antitrust (Part II)
A few weeks back, Josh had a nice post (on Ideoblog) regarding Judge Alito’s antitrust record. He was pretty optimistic, dismissing Judge Alito’s antitrust critics and concluding that “what little Judge Alito has written on antitrust issues is properly described as fastidious analysis complemented by strict application of doctrine.” Some of Judge Alito’s comments in ... Alito and Antitrust (Part II)
