>For one, it creates a negative incentive for the regulatory roles. Now people will seek to be head of the SEC just so they can score a specific job after. Incentives are misaligned.
I just don't see the misalignment in incentives. Everyone is thinking about their compensation next job, and it is only a problem if being bad at your current job somehow makes you more attractive to your next employer.
Unlike the private sector, there shouldn't be any insider information to protect. The SEC should be transparent about the law.
Think of it this way as well, Robinhood's chief regulatory officer quits and gets hired as head of the SEC. Works as head of the SEC for a few years. Their tenure at the SEC ends and they jump right back to Robinhood.
I have 0 doubt in my mind, anyone in that position wouldn't already be predisposed to believe that actions (regulations, enforcement etc) that help Robinhood (and other trading platforms) are a good thing and will work for those corporate interests because they share the same beliefs by default.
Then, once they leave the SEC, they're welcomed back with massive pay as a thank you for the job they did pushing Robinhood's agenda forward which is at odds with good governance principles.
Its like making the head of Exon the head of the govt's renewable energy initiatives. They're gonna say increasing renewable energy output isn't a worthwhile pursuit, what we really need is more oil. Let's sign a big contract over with exon, I even know the people who work there and can make it happen!
Working against society's interests in favor of the corporations
The problem with this view is that SEC chairman is selected by the president, so their values and positions all baked into their appointment. If the president's office wants someone with a more or less favorable position on to trading platforms, they find one. If they don't comport with the government's expectations, they are replaced. Same with the Exon example.
I work in a highly regulated industry and think that the cop and robber idea people have is out of tune with reality witch is more collaborative. Most agencies want businesses to succeed and actively work to help them do so within the confines of the law.
I just don't see the misalignment in incentives. Everyone is thinking about their compensation next job, and it is only a problem if being bad at your current job somehow makes you more attractive to your next employer.
Unlike the private sector, there shouldn't be any insider information to protect. The SEC should be transparent about the law.