It is important that long-term solutions to the corporate governance problems are implemented. The governance changes proposed or enacted into law are detailed in the previous two chapters. Many of the solutions that have been implemented are not necessarily going to be effective over the long term . For example, the SEC has been given significantly increased funding to expand its investigations. But prior to the summer of 2002, its funding was totally inadequate to monitor firms and protect investors. The intense focus on these issues will start to wane over time. As the public shifts its focus, so will politicians . Five, ten, or twenty years from now, elected officials will be looking to reduce the size of government. Or they may be looking for places to cut spending in order to fund other areas that have caught the attention of the public. How long will it be before the SEC's funding is reduced again? When we are experiencing the glow of another prolonged economic expansion and bull market, will anyone care about those regulators who are always trying to ruin the fun? In fact, the governance problems will probably be totally forgotten by the height of the next bull market. When the bull is raging, people who are seeing big investment profits rolling in are likely to overlook a new round of infectious greed. |