No comments about Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Compliance Guidebook: Protecting Your Organization from Bribery and Corruption (Wiley Corporate F&A).

No comments about Bribes.

No comments about Bribery Abroad: Lessons from the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

No comments about Green Felt Jungle.

No comments about Bribery Everywhere: Chronicles From The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

3 comments about Money for Nothing: Politicians, Rent Extraction, and Political Extortion.

1. What motivates politicians? How do they act? If you are interested in those questions your should read this. The author starts from earlier work in the area by Stigler and Posner - but then extends their models in a number of areas. McChesney has a remarkable ability to take a complex area of economics (public choice) and write in an interesting and understandable fashion. This book is probably going to be read mostly by academics but deserves a wider audience.



2. Fred McChesney here develops his original idea of rent extraction -- and it's an idea that renders understandable much of what the government does. (Want to know why the NRA and politicians perform a perpetual, public dance with each other? Read this book. McChesney's explanation will surprise you.) This book is a marvelous example of the best in public-choice scholarship: clearly written and cogent.



3. Fred McChesney's book "Money For Nothing" builds upon public choice economist Gordon Tullock's work on how lobbyists obtain economic benefits from politicians. While Tullock's theory - known as "rent-seeking" - is gaining mainstream appeal, many economists now offer similar explanations for other aspects of legislative behavior that aids some interest groups while harming others. McChesney's theory of "rent-extraction" breaks new ground not yet covered by these economists.

   McChesney defines rent extraction as "the political practice of extorting payments from private parties by making threats to expropriate wealth." In other words, he claims that politicians can take money from citizens by threatening to harm them and accepting bribes in the form of campaign contributions to leave them alone. He points out that if individuals have accumulated wealth and wish to keep it away from the government, they will be willing to pay politicians to leave them alone until the costs of doing so exceed the benefits of doing so.

   Therefore, while Tullock's theory involves politicians accepting payments to create political favors in the form of rents, McChesney's involves politicians accepting payments to avoid destroying existing private rents. He explains the differences between the two by stating: "With the former (rent-creation/bribery), the beneficiaries of political action compensate the politician for increasing their welfare. With the latter (rent extraction/extortion), persons whose welfare would otherwise be diminished by political action compensate the politician for not effectuating that diminution."

   He does point out that constitutional protection of private property and freedom of contract can prevent politicians from acting upon their threats. However, he claims the erosion of these protections has made the problem much more severe during the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

   To support his view that rent extraction imposes enormous costs on the economy, McChesney provides a wealth of evidence from recent policy debates. For example, he cites the United States Federal Trade Commission's efforts - at the request of Congress - to impose warranty and defect disclosure requirements on used car dealers as an attempt by individual members of Congress to obtain campaign contributions in exchange for voiding the rules. In this instance, he provides statistics on contributions made by the National Auto Dealers' Association to members of Congress who voted to repeal the regulations. In discussing the Supreme Court's response to the wheeling and dealing, he points out that the dealers were essentially tricked into paying to repeal legislation that Congress never intended to enact anyway.

   On the Clinton health care plan, he states that stock prices of pharmaceutical firms began to fall before the policy was formally proposed. He emphasizes that investors knew that once price controls became an issue, the firms involved would have to spend money fighting the legislation by making campaign contributions. Thus, the firms were expected to lose enormous sums of money whether or not the bill was actually passed. Most importantly, he points out that the firms were never able to recover any of the money they lost in the process.

   In addition to legislative threats to impose price caps, he cites situations in which politicians threaten to repeal existing price caps to obtain contributions. For example, he states that proposals to raise admission fees at Yellowstone National Park have met with resistance from local merchants and users who benefit from lower prices. In other words, politicians can even threaten regulatory systems that they inherited from previous regimes in order to extract contributions from the firms that benefit from those systems.

   McChesney relates his theory to law and economics by applying the Coase Theorem to his logic. He claims that, in a world without transaction costs, there would be no regulation because markets would allocate goods to their highest bidders. Therefore, in his model, the existence of regulation is treated as a political market failure in which private individuals fail to accurately appraise the credibility of threats made by politicians.

   McChesney offers a simple, straightforward way to make sense of much of the regulatory excess observed throughout the economy. Although his treatment of tax code reform may require some clarification, his model will eventually enjoy the same mainstream appeal that has been afforded to Tullock's over time.

3 comments about The People v. Clarence Darrow: The Bribery Trial of America's Greatest Lawyer.

1. This has been one of my favorite books for years.

   This work is intensely engaging on any number of levels. It discusses Darrow's trial for jury bribery, but places that trial at the very center of fascinating stories.

   _The People v. Clarence Darrow_ works as biography, writing about a pivotal moment in Darrow's career and in his life. It works as history, as this trial was at the center of the early war of capital vs. labor. It works as drama, as Cowan convincingly portrays the dozens of fascinating people involved in this trial in one way or another. And it works as a legal drama. The legal techniques, the arguments, and the absolute importance of this trial to Darrow's life and to the cause of labor generally make this one of the trials of the century, and the story is gripping throughout.

   Finally, Cowan just does a great job with the craft of writing. The characters are real, the story unfolds dramatically. I was never bored, and actually looked forward to reading each new chapter. As you can tell, I can't recommend this book enough.




2. A friend recommended this book as "the best book no one has ever read," and was he ever right. I have always been fascinated by Clarence Darrow and have come to view him as almost a mythical figure, "the lawyer for the damned." The beauty of this book is that it paints a much more human picture of Darrow, highlighting the bad as well as the good, but without in any way being malicious. My admiration for Darrow was still intact after the book, but my understanding of him is now much fuller and realistic. Cowan's account of the trial of Darrow for trying to bribe jurors is riveting and dramatic. I hope that some potential readers find this review, otherwise the possibility arises of this becoming the most favorable review that was never read.



3. Unlike the leader of the English Revolution - Oliver Cromwell - Clarence Darrow spent much of his life working hard to build a mythical image of himself to conceal the fairly despicable character that he really was, and would almost certainly never have told a portrait painter to portray him as he really was - "warts and all". So it would certainly have brought him no pleasure or satisfaction to read this book, which goes a long way towards revealing his many failings.
   
   In respect of my description of him as "despicable", for example, this was a man whose wife, Ruby, stood(or more literally sat)by him through the three months of the first bribery trail, supporting and encouraging him when he was at his lowest ebb, and at one point suffering a breakdown herself.
   And what did she get in return?
   The trial finished on a Saturday when the jury declared Darrow to be "not guilty". Which Darrow celebrated the next day by going for a drive in the country with his mistress - Mary Field - and two of their friends (page 407)!
   The author does not tell us what Ruby Darrow did to pass the time that day.
   
   Indeed, the wonder of this book is that it got written at all, given the power of Darrow's self-aggrandisement, even today. Especially given that the author is so obviously still a devoted fan of Darrow, and despite all the facts he has uncovered, still does his best to excuse Darrow's behaviour. Though given that Cowan was co-founder of the Clarence Darrow foundation this piece of cognitive dissonance is maybe not entirely surprising.
   
   Anyone planning to read this book, and I believe it is indeed worth reading, should be aware that it is a BIG book - 445 pages plus extensive note, a bibliography and an index, which take it up to 546 pages in all.
   And for a very good reason.
   
   Although the book is subtitled: "The bribery trial of America's greatest [sic] lawyer", Cowan actually reaches back to the earlier trial of "Big" Bill Hayward (1907) as he begins to set the scene. He then goes on to describe the MacNamara case in considerable detail, and Darrow's part in those events, not only to explain how the bribery case came about, but also in order to give a really in-depth picture of how Darrow functioned as a lawyer, frequently excusing his own criminal actions - destroying evidence, bribing witnesses, etc. - on the grounds that the alleged wrongdoings of his opponents, and the rights of his clients to a "fair" trail. In short, in Darrow's mind it seems that the "ends" justified virtually any "means".
   
   The problem any non-commited reader faces, as Alan Dershowitz points out, elsewhere, is that anyone who takes the attitude that Darrow held, and acts upon it, does not benefit or help to improve a corrupt system - they merely compound the corruption, however much they may benefit their own clients.
   
   Part of the Darrow myth is that his concern was always to help the weak and the poor or at least, as in Cowan's quote:
   
   "I have represented the strong and the weak - but never the strong against the weak."
   (page 424)
   
   If this had been true it might be a mitigating factor in Darrow's favour. But it was actually nothing more than yet another of Darrow's many lies. Darrow frequently sided with the strong against the weak - and Cowan gives a number of examples, most notably (in this context) the fact that at the very time when he was called upon to act in the MacNamara case, Darrow was in the middle of defending the Kankakee Manufacturing Company against a charge of having [...] many small investors by issuing brochures and letters that were nothing short of [...] in their claims about the company's financial attributes. The case had been brought by an elderly Civil War veteran - Charles Myerhoff - who, like many other, had lost virtually all of his life savings when the guano hit the fan.
   
   And what excuse did Darrow, the alleged "love[r of] his fellow man" (page 445) offer in defense of his [...] clients? Why, that the investors had a legal responsibility to check the veracity of such claims (pages 71-71). Legalistically correct, no doubt, but how on earth does that square with Darrow's sanctimonious claim that he "never [acted for] the strong against the weak"?
   
   No-one really benefits from such wholesale lies as are found in the Darrow myth, and the legal profession in America might benefit greatly if this book was mandatory reading for every Law student in the country - alongside Darrow's own blatantly self-serving, mendacious autobiography "The Story of My Life".

3 comments about Expert Fraud Investigation: A Step-by-Step Guide.

1. Tracy Coenen's previous book, Essentials of Corporate Fraud, provides a great introduction to contemporary fraud issues that is an excellent starting point for people learning about fraud. This book, Expert Fraud Investigation: A Step-by-Step Guide, focuses on the nuts and bolts of investigating alleged, suspected or admitted frauds, providing insights every step of the way. As Tracy shows, it is a sensitive matter that can be a minefield for the inexperienced and unwary.
   
   Drawing on her extensive experience as a certified fraud examiner (CFE) who has worked many cases, Tracy sets out the issues that she addresses at each stage of the fraud investigation process. It is a window into the thought processes of an experienced fraud investigator and a fascinating one at that. While there cannot be a cookie-cutter approach to fraud investigations or a rigid work program, Tracy identifies many considerations that could easily be missed by someone who does not do this type of work all the time. That could help you to avoid having a fraud investigation blow up in your face.
   
   Tracy's conversational writing style makes Expert Fraud Investigation: A Step-by-Step Guide a quick and easy read. She provides many tips that seem to stem directly from her experiences in particular cases. You can just imagine her working these cases and dealing with the issues as they come up. This book, more than any other I have seen, gives you the feel of being with an expert as you work through the fraud investigation process together. You get to learn from her experience not only about the immediate issues at hand but also about preparing yourself for what may come next.
   
   Expert Fraud Investigations: A Step-by-Step Guide would be particularly valuable to internal auditors who are called upon to look into potential frauds, managers wanting to understand traps to avoid when launching fraud investigations in their business units, and people developing their career in fraud examination and investigation. Experienced fraud investigators may be familiar with much of the material, but will likely find useful nuggets of information that they can put to good use.
   
   Kudos to Tracy for demystifying the fraud investigation process and helping others learn from her experience.



2. I really like this book. I am a certified fraud examiner, and have been a sole practitioner practicing in this area since 1996. I read a few books and many articles on fraud every year. This is one of the best.
   
   In a logically structured presentation, Coenen walks through all of the major types of fraud and discusses the thought process that an investigator should use when trying to detect each of them. The discussions of each thought process is typically aided by five to fifteen bullet points--not excessive lists by any means--that the investigator should make sure to consider.
   
   She maintains an engaging, conversational tone throughout the book, with just enough detail and war stories to illustrate the procedures and techniques that she presents. Coenen's book reeks of actual, real-life experience. You can feel the depth and breadth of her fraud investigation experience as you read this book.
   
   Expert Fraud Investigation starts out with three chapters describing the beginning of the cycle: finding fraud, beginning the investigation, and managing the case. These are useful not only for the investigator; attorneys or corporate managers hiring a fraud investigator will also benefit from the delineation of the thought processes and approaches that the investigator should be taking.
   
   Chapters four through six provide a general overview of how to conduct a fraud investigation: searching for fraud, sources of information, and investigative techniques. These chapters give a good overview and some discussion of the thought processes to use.
   
   Chapters seven through ten discuss specific types of fraud and specific investigative steps usually taken to detect them. They cover asset misappropriation schemes, financial statement frauds, corruption schemes, and external frauds such as Ponzi schemes and insurance fraud. The book then concludes with chapters on reporting and litigation, and other issues such as how to market a fraud investigation practice.
   
   Expert Fraud Investigation presents its topic comprehensively, but without redundancy or overkill: Coenen hits each idea once and moves on. There is no new information that I didn't already know, but this book is a great summary of most of the things I need to know to do my work. It is probably a book I will pick up and read a few more times when I need a refresher or am stumped on a fraud investigation.
   
   This book is a good read for fraud investigators with all levels of experience, for judges and lawyers who deal with expert witnesses or consultants in fraud cases, and for corporate managers fearful that they may need a fraud investigation at their own company.



3. This is a well written book, but not quite what I expected. Although the information contained is certainly informative and helpful, there really isn't enough of it. Many subjects get little more than a page in the book. For someone not trained in accounting, this would be a great book, but for someone with the education and some experience, it really didn't give me enough to justify the fairly steep price tag. If it had fleshed out more of the concepts and was another 100-200 pages longer, it would be a fantatic book, but it just not quite enough of what I neeeded. Her writing is excellent considering the technical nature of the subject matter, so I will certainly look into other titles by the author.

2 comments about Heart of Gold.

1. Shane Callan, is a jaded cop/undercover agent, sent to protect the heroine after an injury that put him off his active line of duty. And the heroine Faith Kincaid is the ex-wife of a senator William Gerard who is accused of corruption and bribery. And she will be testifying against him in the trail.
   
   And so the story starts as Faith is settling into an old inn she bought in the town of Anastasia, and she is going to renovate it and then open it for business again. And then Shane arrives uninvited, Faith doesn't want him there because his presence rattles her and she finds that she is very attracted to him, but of course he is stubborn and he has been sent to do a job and he will do it. Only he in turn finds himself very attracted to her as well, and his view of her as a shallow/vapid woman is quickly changed as he sees that Faith is indeed a sweet and courageous woman who has been through a lot.
   
   And while it is true that the hero in true cliche fashion can not fall in love, or more precisely has prohibited himself from falling in love or gettig emotionally tangled with any woman, I have to say that it was handled very well here. So for me, while I don't like this premise, the author gave Shane a very good reason to be the way he is (he lost a woman he loved and should have protected several years before, and he is terrified that if he allows himself to fall for Faith the same will happen to her). So it was a good and convincing reason, and I liked that he realized and admitted that he was in love with Faith before the last ten pages of the book. I also liked Faith's resilience, I really liked her vulnerability and quiet strength.
   
   My only complaint is that the ending was kind of abrupt, nice HEA and all, but the author left some pivotal points unclear. Will Shane now leave his work and settle down and find a more stable and less dangerous job because he is becoming a family man? Or will Faith move with him from Anastasia? That was left unclear, even if it was implied that he would stay, it should have been made clearer. And Faith did get a little annoying when she argued with Shane about wanting to use herself as bait for the killer. And the subplot about her testifying against her husband was sort of left open. Basically I felt that the ending of this book, needed more closure, as both Shane and Faith reached their HEA.
   
   In the end, I liked this book, it is a good read. I really liked the feel of the relationship between Faith and Shane. "Heart of Gold" does have heart, the reader can feel the love between Faith and Shane, and that is very important to me while reading a book. If I can't feel the emotionality of the story/relationship, then both the h/h fall flat for me alongside the storyline. Both Shane and Faith were well drawnout characters. And Lindy, Faith's 4 year old daughter, was really adorable!
   
   A romantic and entertaining read, complete with a dash of suspence...



2. This was the first book I'd read by Tami Hoag and I am very impressed. I fell in love with each of the characters, even the non-main characters. And the description of the setting made me wish I was on that very beach. Great chemistry, great read!

5 comments about Discipline Without Distress: 135 tools for raising caring, responsible children without time-out, spanking, punishment or bribery.

1. I ordered this book as my 18 month old starting act out more. Arnall presents great ideas, along with a handy chart at the end of the book for specific techniques for various age groups and problem behaviors.
   
   The techniques in the book very intuitive and what you instinctively know to be good parenting behavior but weren't totally sure how to implement. As she says in her book, the goal of raising a good child is to know that they will behave and do the right thing even when you're not around (and the risk of 'punishment' from you isn't there). In essence, she teaches you how to raise a child who is aware and makes the right decision because they have learned right and wrong from the behavior a parent should be modeling.
   
   Very good book, highly recommend it!



2. I received my copy of Discipline without Distress yesterday in the mail. I've only read parts of it, I am loving it. It's so practical with tangible ways of how to handle certain situations. It's broken down by age groups and reviews what is reasonable and not at each age; common age-related problems and how to handle them; and how to help you manage yourself. I've read several books focused on discipline and this is by far the best.



3. As I was learning how to discipline my strong-willed 18 month old, I was reading a lot about how to discipline. Included in these books (I had NOT yet read Discipline Without Distress) were the benefits of spanking by very good and some Christian well intentioned people that I truly believe love children. However, as my son became more defiant, he seemed to be getting spanked more and more and it wasn't working. I was hardly doing more than tapping his bottom, but it was breaking his heart, breaking mine that I felt I had to do it, and it didn't seem to be solving his 'normal for age' behavioral issues. That is when I did some more searching on Amazon for some alternatives to spanking.
   
   Discipline Without Distress has been well researched! It breaks down for you where your child is developmentally at each age and SEVERAL EXAMPLES of how to act in numerous situations. We parents like concrete examples! Strong-willed children or high needs children DO NOT HAVE TO BE SPANKED! It may take much more effort on the part of the parent to be patient and act, not react, but this book will help give you the tools you need.
   
   As for my son, this book seems made for him. Using the techniques in this book, such as redirection for one, is 200% more effective than spanking ever was.
   
   I would recommend reading or buying this book first, before you read ANY literature on pro spanking. Discipline Without Distress is so thorough, I doubt you will feel the need to read pro spanking books.



4. i searched for days trying to find a book that matches my ideas and beliefs but this book has no discipline guidelines. it re-iterates the same concept of loving nurturing parent but no real methods for positive reinforcement. as a single parent i need all the help i can get and this book left me with lots of questions



5. Discipline Without Distress? Well, I wouldn't go THAT far. I love the book though. Putting the advice into action hasn't been easy for me and has required a lot of change in my thinking. My 4 yr old son can be volatile and way out of control frequently; he's a wonderful child, but still. I ordered this book when NOTHING was working with disciplining him: spanking, yelling, time-outs, taking away toys, rewards etc. Over a short amount of time - and I mean very short - I could see in some situations how the 'techniques' worked and things had improved for both me AND him. Things I love about the book - it's focus on: building a loving relationship, advocating the child's independent self-evaluation/correction of undesirable behavior, and instilling confidence in me to discipline my child so he learns the true lesson in a situation. The book provides many tools and perspectives that are very helpful. I am very pleased with our progress so far (2 weeks into it now). What I don't like - is really only one thing - and that's the advice to avoid situations that can trigger behavior problems in the child (like eating out, visiting friends, etc). A lot of the situations she names are not avoidable for us. I just try to keep in-line with the overall direction and prepare the best I can with him in advance for the situations that I know tend to be difficult. Bottom line, I highly recommend the book - especially if you feel you've tried everything - and nothing seems to be working.