My sense is that the New York Times editors need a little psychiatric help in letting their “Enron-thing” go.
In this article, the Times reports on a working paper by a couple of East Coast economists who propose the rather unsurprising hypothesis that accounting scandals are one of many factors that tend to have a negative effect on job growth. Thus, the Times translates that working paper into the headline: “The Crime: Slow Job Growth. A Suspect: Enron.”
Of course, the Times didn’t bother to call the longstanding the expert on Houston’s employment market to find out the effect that Enron’s demise has had on Houston’s employment market (it’s not had much long-term effect). Nor does the Times bother to note that governmental regulation through criminalization of business — particularly the Arthur Andersen case — has likely had a far larger negative effect on jobs than the accounting scandal at Enron or other companies.
By the way, this is not the first time that the Times editors have used a questionable headline relating to Enron. Is there a medical term for an unhealthy preoccupation with Enron? Enronpsychosis?
Houston's Clear Thinkers
Longtime Houston attorney Tom Kirkendall's observations on developments in law, business, medicine, culture, sports, and other matters of general interest to the Houston business, professional, and academic communities.
This post is not up to this blog’s usual standards.
Next time you feel the urge to make a starboard snark attack, Tom, try to remember that it’s all crap.
All the time.
See, Tom, I *told* you someone would catch on to the obscure Strauss references! š ha ha ha
Another Enron-Katrina connection:
The Houston-based non-profit Technology for All, which has set up three computer labs in the Astrodome and helped thousands to connect with families, was created and funded by the the recently acquitted Scott Yeager of the Enron Broadband trial.