[neffy]

I suspect most countries would prefer Japan's problems to their own.

An alternative view might be that the excessive returns in the US are due to outright financial manipulation using share by backs funded by low interest rates (amongst other things) leading to an insane concentration of money in the stock market and financial sector to the detriment of large sections of US society, its basic infrastructure, and its democracy.

This is what happens when white collar crime is institutionalised.

[andreilys]

This is what happens when white collar crime is institutionalised.

Buying back shares is neither "financial manipulation" nor is it a "white collar crime".

When interest rates are low and you are bullish on the company, it makes perfect sense to buy back shares.

[omgwtfbyobbq]

It's not, but it can be risky for that business.

https://www.hbr.org/2020/01/why-stock-buybacks-are-dangerous...

Course, if financial incentives for the c-suite are tied to share price, that's just another example of choose the reward, choose the consequences.

[kortilla]

> This is what happens when white collar crime is institutionalised.

Do you know what share buybacks even are?

[neffy]

One of the most objectively expensive forms of executive compensation ever invented. Tax efficient for the execs though.

[kortilla]

No. https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/042015/why-would-co...

[somewhereoutth]

Indeed. In the US corruption has been legalised. For example healthcare - in a corrupt third world country you might expect to hand cash under the table in order to see a doctor. In the US, that cash goes over the table.

[chii]

high cost itself is a likely outcome of corruption, but insufficient evidence to demonstrate corruption.

The high cost of health care in the US is due to a large number of factors, one of which is lack of transparent pricing, anti-competitive practises in insurance companies, and lack of public-purchasing power for health care. Very little is due to "corruption".

[dev_tty01]

So paying for things directly is corrupt?