Private Equity's Retail Gambit: Opportunity or Overreach?
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Resources & Recommendations
Books
- Doctoral dissertation about leveraged buyouts by Steve Kaplan - This dissertation from the 1980s was one of the first academic works on leveraged buyouts, analyzing their impact on company operating performance.
Podcasts
- "Do You Know Who Owns Your Vet?" (Freakonomics Radio) - An episode that explores the private equity industry's impact on veterinary practices.
- "Are Private Equity Firms Plundering the U.S. Economy?" (Freakonomics Radio) - An episode discussing the broader economic implications of private equity firms.
People Mentioned
- Elizabeth de Fontenay (Professor of Law at Duke University) - Her research focuses on corporate law and corporate finance, particularly private markets like private equity and venture capital.
- Lina Khan (Former Chair of the Federal Trade Commission) - Referenced for her views on private equity firms gaining power by acquiring numerous smaller companies within industries.
- Steve Kaplan (Professor at the University of Chicago) - An economics legend who has been involved with private equity research since the 1980s, conducting some of the first work on leveraged buyouts.
- John Bogle (Founder of Vanguard) - His philosophy of democratizing investing and making it accessible, easy, and cheap for everyone through low-cost index funds was mentioned.
Organizations & Institutions
- Federal Trade Commission (FTC) - Mentioned in the context of Lina Khan's role as its former chair and its oversight of market power.
- Duke University - The academic institution where Elizabeth de Fontenay is a Professor of Law.
- University of Chicago - The academic institution where Steve Kaplan is a Professor.
Websites & Online Resources
- Amica.com - Mentioned as a place to get a quote for insurance.
- MintMobile.com - Mentioned for shopping unlimited wireless plans.
- Dell.com/holiday - Mentioned to learn more about Dell PCs.
- FedEx.com/newpowermove - Mentioned to learn more about FedEx's data insights for business.
- LinkedIn.com/freakonomics - Mentioned to access a credit for LinkedIn Ads.
- RangeRover.com/us/sport - Mentioned to build a Range Rover Sport.
- SouthernCompany.com - Mentioned to learn more about Southern Company's commitment to energy.
- SaveOnZepbound.com - Mentioned to explore savings options for Zepbound.
- CapitalOne.com/subscriptions - Mentioned to learn more about managing subscriptions with Capital One.
- BirchLane.com - Mentioned for shopping furniture and decor.
- Radio.Freakonomics.com - The podcast's email address for listener feedback.
- Freakonomics.com - The podcast's website where transcripts and show notes are published.
Other Resources
- Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) threshold - A regulation mentioned in the context of antitrust scrutiny and how private equity firms might avoid triggering reporting thresholds when acquiring small businesses.
- Harris Poll published in the Wall Street Journal - A poll result cited indicating that only 10% of retirement investors are unhappy with current investment choices.