Self Regulation for Business..

The belief that the business community will self regulate is a naive one.
In general, small business in a small market place does self regulate.. If one trader charges too much, the customers will move to a lower priced trader. If all three sellers of a product collude and price-fix, the customers will call the Mayor and he will politely ask the traders to behave themselves. A thousand rules carved in stone should not be necessary.
Big Business however, is in a different league..

Big Government requires big money. Getting re-elected every few years is insanely expensive!
Small business contributes very little to campaign funds.. Multi-Nationals contribute enormous amounts and are therefore pandered to by government.
If Enron types want to collude on prices - the government will not intervene. Even when California was being bankrupted by Enron price fixing, the government did nothing.
Everyone understands that if the Mafia moves into a market place, self-regulation becomes a joke - yet, multi-nationals have "methods" and connections that the Mafia can only dream of.
Obviously, once the Mayor is allowed to receive "gifts" from big traders, going to him with your tales of collusion is pointless. "He's a busy man"

Once patent monopolies are thrown into the mix - self regulation looses all meaning.
Individual politicians complain vigorously about the $1000 price on a $10 Aids drug - but nothing changes.

Many of the worlds financial experts agree that one of the main causes of the Global Financial Crisis was too little regulation of the banking sector. Alan Greenspans blind belief that banks would self-regulate now seems almost criminal! He is now an incredibly embarrassed man.

Most businesses agree on the need for regulation to control collusion and other almost criminal practices. They don't see the need for, or have the time to fill out a hundred forms or to keep track of a thousand rules.
Rules and forms alone will not stop collusion or extortion - mafia types will always find 'ways' around them.

The best regulation is provided by listening to the intel from competitors.
Harry Markopolos (Re: the Madoff ponzi inquiry) was one of Madoffs competitors, he only took minutes to uncover the scam.. However, it took years to get anyone in authority to listen to him!
Rather than a thousand rules, we need government regulators who will listen.. And who are not allowed to receive "gifts" or "employment opportunities" from those they are supposed to be policing!

wip