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F. Hodge O'Neal Corporate and Securities Law Symposium

Wall Street Scandals: The Curative Effects of Law and Finance

Authors: William G. Christie (Vanderbilt University) , Robert B. Thompson (Georgetown University Law Center)

  • Wall Street Scandals: The Curative Effects of Law and Finance

    F. Hodge O'Neal Corporate and Securities Law Symposium

    Wall Street Scandals: The Curative Effects of Law and Finance

    Authors: ,

Abstract

This Article studies three scandals that embroiled U.S. financial markets during the past decade or so, including the Nasdaq market-makers' use only of odd-eighths quotes, the abuse of specialist power on the New York Stock Exchange, and the mutual fund scandal. We attempt to attribute the resolution of these situations to the curative effects of markets versus regulation. We argue that the intervention of the legal system through regulation and/or litigation is often necessary to help resolve the misalignment of incentives needed for markets to accomplish their goal of maximizing value. The Article suggests that there exists an important synergy between financial markets and law that is often overlooked.

Keywords: Capital market, Securities industry -- Self-regulation, Administrative law, Cost effectiveness, Securities fraud, Corporate governance, Financial markets, Market power, Mutual funds, United States

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Published on
2006-01-01