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Columbia Law School

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Full-Text Articles in Law

Edwin S. Cohen, Michael J. Graetz Jan 2006

Edwin S. Cohen, Michael J. Graetz

Faculty Scholarship

This is not the first time I have spoken to honor Edwin S. Cohen. I spoke at two of his retirements – at least – and in the Rotunda at both his 75th and 80th birthday celebrations. Each time, and on many other occasions over the years when I have spoken about tax law or policy in his presence, I would always steal a glance at Eddie, looking for that twinkle in his eyes, hoping to bring a smile to his face, or even an outright giggle. Today, I know I will still look, as I will for years to …


Tax Constraints On Indexed Options, David M. Schizer Jan 2001

Tax Constraints On Indexed Options, David M. Schizer

Faculty Scholarship

Indexed stock option grants reward executives for outperforming a benchmark, such as the market as a whole or competitors in the same industry. These options offer superior incentives by limiting the influence of factors beyond an executive's control, such as general market and industry conditions. Yet indexed options are almost never used. Professor Saul Levmore seeks to explain this puzzle with norms. This comment on his article argues that tax plays a larger role in this puzzle than he acknowledges, although tax is not a complete explanation. Accounting and Professor Levmore's norms-based account are then briefly considered.