For approximately 75 years (at least), the federal government has intervened in executive pay—in both direct and indirect ways. Two examples of direct intervention are Pay Controls (1971-74) and the current TARP program, introduced in 2008 in respect of financial institutions (and subsequently extended to two automotive companies) and still in effect as to many of these institutions. [1]

An example of indirect intervention is the SEC’s requirement, commencing in the late 1930s, of disclosure regarding compensation of certain top executives in the annual proxy statements of publicly traded companies. [2] (Ironically, in contrast to direct controls, a major consequence of the SEC’s indirect intervention through required disclosure has been an upward “tilt” to executive pay—the so-called “ratcheting effect,” as discussed later in the column.)

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