Actually, it's worse than that. Regulations are designed for all sorts of purposes, from picking winners and losers in the marketplace to sweetening out bond purchases so that the Fed can keep robbing domestic holders of hard assets "without consequence." It's no accident that the bulk of our environmental laws were instituted immediately after the collapse of the Brettonwoods agreement.
Take a look at the stuff on the site. If it interests you, let me know and I'll send you a pdf.
I haven't read your book yet, but I take a Coasian approach: the best way to internalize costs that are now externalized is to expand the institution of private property rights.
Correct, within limits. The rule of law is important with regard to contracts, articles of incorporation, and rigorous prosecution with heavy penalties for fraud. This is where Natural Law competition comes in, as people in different places impress different evaluations upon their particular attributes.
Very interesting insight. I read a lot on economics and economic history, yet I don't think I've ever seen that point mentioned by anyone.
Will peruse your site as soon as possible and get back to you. Many thanks!