The Decline and Fall of the American Entrepreneur: How Little Known Laws and Regulations are Killing Innovation

Author, Dale B. Halling Politics, Economics
132 pages ISBN 978-1-4392-6136-1

This short book provides an expert, astute analysis of the history of incentives and disincentives related to innovation, focusing on policies of the past up to the date of printing. Written in 2009 it explores government regulations and laws related to patents, copyrights, laws and regulations that effected the capitol markets, protections for inventors, investors and producers. It examines several positive influences for technology growth of the nineties, policies that subsequently initiated the decline of innovation and in combination with the housing/banking collapse of 2008 left us with the most stagnant economic conditions since the great depression. Combined with astronomical national debt the government has set the stage for continued tough times for innovation, the middle class and mobility up the economic ladder.

There is historical examination and exposure of both positive and negative regulations with an emphasis on the most detrimental polices of government regulators and constructive solutions. A growing prosperous economy for all depends on continued innovation and too often government meddling has not protected and promoted intellectual property rights. In fact laws like Sarbanes Oxley, other regulations, government market manipulations, and entering fields best left to the private sector market are shown to have created or exacerbated much of the recent economic decline while diminishing intellectual property protections.

The book has nine chapters, 0: Phoenix, 1: It’s the Economy, Stupid, 2: U.S. Technological Stagnation, 3: The Holy Grail of Economic Growth, Productivity, and Income, 4: A Short History of the United States, 5: Intellectual Property Socialism, 6: Sarbanes Oxley- The Medicine is Worse than the Disease, 7: Stock Options – Accounting or Controlling? 8: Suggestions and Prognostications.

Reading it you will find sound arguments, excellent suggestions and gain understanding of what for many is under-appreciated major contributors to our nation’s economy and prosperity. Dale B. Halling is an author, patent attorney and a regular contributor to our Gulch. I would recommend picking up this book and taking advantage of his informed expert perspective.

Respectfully,
O.A.