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Full-Text Articles in Law

The Pharma Barons: Corporate Law's Dangerous New Race To The Bottom In The Pharmaceutical Industry, Eugene Mccarthy Oct 2018

The Pharma Barons: Corporate Law's Dangerous New Race To The Bottom In The Pharmaceutical Industry, Eugene Mccarthy

Michigan Business & Entrepreneurial Law Review

In this Article, I argue that drug companies have created a highly profitable but dangerous business model by employing the same legal tactics as the nineteenth-century “robber barons,” the group of financiers who orchestrated corporate law’s infamous race to the bottom. Like these historical financiers, drug company executives have captured the legal apparatus and regulatory bodies that oversee them. In so doing, they have transformed the law from a system of governance into a set of enabling doctrines. The pharmaceutical industry has turned legislation intended to protect the public into a legal justification for marketing ineffective and unsafe prescription drugs. …


Medicine As A Public Calling, Nicholas Bagley Oct 2015

Medicine As A Public Calling, Nicholas Bagley

Michigan Law Review

The debate over how to tame private medical spending tends to pit advocates of government-provided insurance—a single-payer scheme—against those who would prefer to harness market forces to hold down costs. When it is mentioned at all, the possibility of regulating the medical industry as a public utility is brusquely dismissed as anathema to the American regulatory tradition. This dismissiveness, however, rests on a failure to appreciate just how deeply the public utility model shaped health law in the twentieth century— and how it continues to shape health law today. Closer economic regulation of the medical industry may or may not …


Can Self-Regulation Work? Lessons From The Private Security And Military Industry, Daphné Richemond-Barak Phd Jun 2014

Can Self-Regulation Work? Lessons From The Private Security And Military Industry, Daphné Richemond-Barak Phd

Michigan Journal of International Law

The private security and military industry has undergone a dramatic shift over the past decade—from an under-regulated sphere of activity to one in which an array of self-regulatory schemes has emerged. These regulatory initiatives took shape as states, security companies, and the broader public recognized the need to clarify the legal framework applicable to private security and military companies. Private contractors, once regarded as mercenaries, have over the past two decades played an increasingly central role in support of modern militaries. Reasons for this phenomenon range from budgetary policy to the need for specialized expertise most readily available in the …


Market Power In Power Markets: The Filed-Rate Doctrine And Competition In Electricity, Sandeep Vaheesan Apr 2013

Market Power In Power Markets: The Filed-Rate Doctrine And Competition In Electricity, Sandeep Vaheesan

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

State and federal initiatives have opened the American electric power industry to competition over the past four decades. Although the process has not occurred uniformly across the country, wholesale electricity markets exist everywhere today. Independent power producers can construct generation facilities and sell their output to utilities and industrial customers through bilateral contracts. In many regions, centralized power markets now facilitate the sale of billions of dollars in electricity annually through auctions. Although market forces have replaced direct price regulation in electricity, antitrust enforcement has not expanded its role commensurately. A lack of competition has been a serious problem in …


Incubator Cities: Tomorrow's Economy, Yesterday's Start-Ups, Abraham J.B. Cable Jan 2013

Incubator Cities: Tomorrow's Economy, Yesterday's Start-Ups, Abraham J.B. Cable

Michigan Business & Entrepreneurial Law Review

Venture development funds (“VDFs”) are products of state and local government law that use public funds to invest in local start-ups, in the hope that these companies will then attract venture capital investment. Existing analysis by legal scholars largely assumes that establishing a private venture capital market is essential to encouraging entrepreneurship. This article challenges that assumption. It argues that VDFs and other policies focused on encouraging venture capital are outmoded and inconsistent with the ultimate economic development goals of state and local governments. In many industries, entrepreneurs can now get by with less capital because the cost of developing …


Antitrust Rulemaking As A Solution To Abuse On The Standard-Setting Process, Adam Speegle Mar 2012

Antitrust Rulemaking As A Solution To Abuse On The Standard-Setting Process, Adam Speegle

Michigan Law Review

While many recognize the critical role that technology plays in modern life, few appreciate the role that standards play in contributing to its success. Devices as prevalent as the modern laptop computer for example, may be governed by over 500 interoperability standards, regulating everything from the USB drive to the memory chip. To facilitate adoption of such standards, firms are increasingly turning to standard-setting organizations. These organizations consist of members of an industry who agree to abide by the organization's bylaws, which typically regard topics such as patent disclosure and reasonable licensing. Problems arise, however, when members violate these bylaws …


Creating A Plug-In Electric Vehicle Industry Cluster In Michigan: Prospects And Policy Options, Thomas P. Lyon, Russell A. Baruffi Jr. Jan 2011

Creating A Plug-In Electric Vehicle Industry Cluster In Michigan: Prospects And Policy Options, Thomas P. Lyon, Russell A. Baruffi Jr.

Michigan Telecommunications & Technology Law Review

This Article seeks to examine how policy can be used strategically to foster the development of a plug-in electric vehicle ("PEV") industry cluster in Michigan. The tendency for certain industries to localize in particular regions has captured the interest of much economic research and policy discussion in recent years. The trend toward the clustering of new industries has stayed strong despite the acceleration of globalization. Attention to clusters has proven to be an enduring theme in economic development circles for nearly thirty years. Clusters generate synergies that make industrial activity greater than the sum of contributions by individual players. In …


Economics And The Design Of Patent Systems, Robert M. Hunt Jan 2007

Economics And The Design Of Patent Systems, Robert M. Hunt

Michigan Telecommunications & Technology Law Review

I use intuition derived from several of my research papers to make three points. First, in the absence of a common law balancing test, application of uniform patentability criteria favors some industries over others. Policymakers must decide the optimal tradeoff across industries. Second, if patent rights are not closely related to the underlying inventions, more patenting may reduce R&D in industries that are both R&D and patent intensive. Third, the U.S. private innovation system has become far more decentralized than it was a generation ago. It is reasonable to inquire whether a patent system that worked well in an era …


The Myth Of Inherent And Inevitable Industry Differences: Diversity As Artifact In The Quest For Patent Reforms, Robert A. Armitage Jan 2007

The Myth Of Inherent And Inevitable Industry Differences: Diversity As Artifact In The Quest For Patent Reforms, Robert A. Armitage

Michigan Telecommunications & Technology Law Review

The University of Michigan Law School hosted a two-day conference entitled "Patents and Diversity in Innovation." The morning of the first day featured a panel devoted to "industry differences." This panel took up the task of dealing with the following questions: How has diversification of innovation and the expansion of patentable subject matter affected patent practice? How do markets for technology vary from sector to sector? And how do they reflect or influence patent practice? To what extent are business practices and competitive markets shaped by the nature of the technology, product, or service?[...] A conference titled "Patents and Diversity" …


Antitrust Enfocement And High-Technology Markets, William J. Baer, David A. Balto Jun 1999

Antitrust Enfocement And High-Technology Markets, William J. Baer, David A. Balto

Michigan Telecommunications & Technology Law Review

Although the antitrust laws apply to all industries, the application must be tempered in each case by the myriad ways in which competition can be modified by structural, behavioral, technological, regulatory, and other characteristics. The Commission applies the antitrust laws with sensitivity to the special characteristics of high-tech industries and of intellectual property, but also with the recognition that--as in other industries--competition plays an important role in spurring innovation and in spreading the benefits of that innovation to consumers. This focus is not new. This balanced approach has roots that go back at least to the 1977 Antitrust Guide to …


The Bigness Complex: Industry, Labor, And Government In The American Economy, James R. Steffen May 1988

The Bigness Complex: Industry, Labor, And Government In The American Economy, James R. Steffen

Michigan Law Review

A Review of The Bigness Complex: Industry, Labor, and Government in the American Economy by Walter Adams and James W. Brock


Japan's High Technology Industries: Lessons And Limitations Of Industrial Policy, Steven R. Englund May 1988

Japan's High Technology Industries: Lessons And Limitations Of Industrial Policy, Steven R. Englund

Michigan Law Review

A Review of Japan's High Technology Industries: Lessons and Limitations of Industrial Policy edited by Hugh Patrick


Canada's Foreign Investment Review Act And The Problem Of Industrial Policy, James M. Spence Q.C. Jan 1984

Canada's Foreign Investment Review Act And The Problem Of Industrial Policy, James M. Spence Q.C.

Michigan Journal of International Law

The purpose of this article is to consider the Foreign Investment Review Act (FIRA or the Act) of Canada in the context of the continuing discussion in North America of the concept of "industrial policy." The particular version of industrial policy of interest for this purpose is the concept which involves interventionist activity by the government designed to affect directly the economic activity of an industry, company, or plant. The first part of the article briefly describes the background and operation of FIRA. The second part comments on the concept of interventionist industrial policy as it has developed in Canada. …


Industrial Policy In The Field Of Informatics In Brazil, Walter Douglas Stuber Jan 1984

Industrial Policy In The Field Of Informatics In Brazil, Walter Douglas Stuber

Michigan Journal of International Law

This article first presents a brief overview of Brazilian industrial development. This overview provides a basis for understanding how the Brazilian Government's informatics policy differs from past Brazilian industrial models. The article then describes the Brazilian Government's policy in the field of informatics. It concludes that a policy which is less protectionist than the government's current program would, through allowing greater foreign participation in the market, better encourage the development of Brazilian informatic companies.


The Role Of Planning Contracts In The Conduct Of French Industrial Policy, Saul Estrin, Peter M. Holmes Jan 1984

The Role Of Planning Contracts In The Conduct Of French Industrial Policy, Saul Estrin, Peter M. Holmes

Michigan Journal of International Law

The French have a long history of state economic planning, of comprehensive industrial policy, and of contractualised relations between the state and firms, though the links between them have not always been close. In the following section we review the relevant history of French planning and industrial policy. We focus in the second section on the development of contractual relations between corporations and the state in postwar France until the Socialists took office in 1981. In the third section we discuss recent developments, and we conclude with a theoretical appraisal of the experience.


Whither The Future Of Japanese Industrial Development Policies?, Merit E. Janow Jan 1984

Whither The Future Of Japanese Industrial Development Policies?, Merit E. Janow

Michigan Journal of International Law

This article describes past and present Japanese industrial policies. After discussing the evolution of Japanese industrial policies generally, it addresses the specific instruments of those policies including those intended to assist declining industries as well as those intended to promote the development of new industries. Finally, this article suggests that government guidance of Japan's industrial sector has decreased and is likely to decrease further still in the future.


Foreign Investment Laws In Developing Countries, Jane E. Cross Jan 1984

Foreign Investment Laws In Developing Countries, Jane E. Cross

Michigan Journal of International Law

Rather than extensively analyzing the various laws of Argentina, Mexico, and Nigeria that are specifically designed to encourage foreign investment, this note endeavors to explain how the laws of these countries that have as the primary function the monitoring and restricting of foreign investment activity are able to refrain from severely discouraging the foreign investment needed to promote industrialization. The tendency of LDCs to liberalize their restrictive foreign investment laws over the last few years demonstrates the growing importance of minimizing the adverse impact of legal constraints on foreign capital investment.


Investment Incentives And Guarantees In The Republic Of China, The Republic Of Korea, Thailand, And The People's Republic Of China, Barbara J. Martin Jan 1984

Investment Incentives And Guarantees In The Republic Of China, The Republic Of Korea, Thailand, And The People's Republic Of China, Barbara J. Martin

Michigan Journal of International Law

This note will focus on direct investment in four countries in Southeast Asia: the Republic of China (ROC), the Republic of Korea (ROK or South Korea), Thailand, and the People's Republic of China (PRC). Despite similar goals, these four countries differ significantly in their treatment of foreign investors.


Technology Diffusion And The Performance Of American Manufacturing: A Propsal For An Industrial Extension Service, Frank Ostroff Jan 1984

Technology Diffusion And The Performance Of American Manufacturing: A Propsal For An Industrial Extension Service, Frank Ostroff

Michigan Journal of International Law

The purpose of this article is to propose an Industrial Extension Service modeled upon the Agricultural Extension Service, and suggest how it might effectively address certain fundamental problems hindering the performance of the American manufacturing sector. Part I highlights some probable causes of American manufacturing's declining relative performance. Part II discusses why firms may adopt new technology more slowly than would be optimal. Part III considers the model of the Agricultural Extension Service, pointing out those features that make it attractive and those features that would have to be changed in applying it to the industrial sector. Part III also …


An Alternative To High Tech, Donald E. Dekieffer Jan 1984

An Alternative To High Tech, Donald E. Dekieffer

Michigan Journal of International Law

In recent years American industry's ability to compete in the international marketplace has appeared to decline. With a decreased world market share and a balance of payments deficit many policymakers have concluded that traditional industry is dying and that it is time to reassess American economic strength in new and more advanced industries, that is, "high-tech" industries. The "failure" of domestic "smokestack" industries producing automobiles, steel, and textiles allegedly supports this view. However, the problems of these industries are attributable to the current structure and climate of international and domestic trade. To offer any realistic solutions, the following issues must …


The Joint Enterprise: Collaboration Between The Public And Private Sectors, Howard Anawalt, Karen Robbins Jan 1984

The Joint Enterprise: Collaboration Between The Public And Private Sectors, Howard Anawalt, Karen Robbins

Michigan Journal of International Law

This article first outlines the structures of the joint and tripartite enterprises. It then addresses two legal concerns facing an operational enterprise, the potential tort liability of enterprise participants and antitrust restrictions. Tort liability is a threshold concern of any joint venture or partnership, and antitrust law is a basic constraint on the operations of any business. The article proceeds to show that the problems they pose for a joint enterprise can be minimized or avoided. In the third part of the article the authors demonstrate the special utility of the joint enterprise.


The United States Specialty Steel Industry, Michael H. Leb Jan 1984

The United States Specialty Steel Industry, Michael H. Leb

Michigan Journal of International Law

Part I of this note briefly describes the problems of the specialty steel industry and traces the attempts to deal with those problems from 1968 through the imposition of the relief measures which spawned the current negotiations. After discussing the trade history of the specialty steel industry, the note examines the effectiveness of two domestic import relief statutes through which the government has attempted to assist the industry. The note then analyzes U.S. attempts to aid the specialty steel industry through measures which violate the fundamental principles of the GATT system. The note concludes that since the GATT system cannot …


The Large Civil Aircraft Industry: Applying Legal Policy-Making Tools To Accommodate A Changing Industry, Dennis G. Terez Jan 1984

The Large Civil Aircraft Industry: Applying Legal Policy-Making Tools To Accommodate A Changing Industry, Dennis G. Terez

Michigan Journal of International Law

This note first examines the emergence of Airbus Industrie (Al or Airbus) and identifies some of the legal and policy instruments which the European governments have employed to make Al a successful competitor. After a brief discussion of the growing difficulties with subsidy policies, the note considers European Community legislation for a common European industrial policy and the creation of a European Export Bank as possible alternative solutions for maintaining Al's competitiveness. The note finally argues that international industrial agreements are necessary legal tools for effective regulation of the manufacture and sale of large civil aircraft. International agreements currently in …


The Impact Of Industrial Legislation On The Behavior Of Multinational Enterprises And Labor In The Industrializing Countries Of East And Southeast Asia, Kojo Yelpaala Jan 1984

The Impact Of Industrial Legislation On The Behavior Of Multinational Enterprises And Labor In The Industrializing Countries Of East And Southeast Asia, Kojo Yelpaala

Michigan Journal of International Law

The phenomenon of industrial legislation is not new in the world. Several industrialized, non-industrialized, capitalist, and socialist countries all have at different stages in their development used industrial legislation for the achievement of industrial goals, development targets and national welfare objectives. This legislation has generally addressed labor relations, taxes, plant location, exchange controls, and capital controls. What is perhaps new is its focus on the behavior of Multinational Enterprises (MNE). The emergence of the MNE on the world economic scene has introduced an elusive but important element in the industrial policy calculus of nations.