(By Frank Holmes) Last weekend, I had the chance to experience the thrill of Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada in Montreal. F1 has evolved over the past 60 years to make cars aerodynamic like a jet fighter, design wings that use the same principle as an aircraft, and engineer tires that withstand tremendous forces. Even with all these incredible advancements in technology, rules and regulations have adapted to reduce costs and improve safety. Since 1994, there hasn't been a fatal accident in the motorsport.
The ever-evolving rules seem to have improved competition as well. This year, the first seven races have resulted in a different winner each time, breaking a historical trend of only a few drivers dominating the track. When asked about this phenomenon, Peter Sauber, the team boss of Sauber-Ferrari, says he thinks fans are "delighted with the unpredictability, the sheer variety and the unbelievably close competition."
F1's fine-tuning of regulations to respect the risks and rewards of racing is the formula government policies should strive for when regulating businesses. Instead, as The Economist pointed out a few months ago, excessive regulations are acting as speed bumps today. Not only is the financial industry burdened with Sarbanes-Oxley and Dodd-Frank, companies in the telecommunications, materials and utilities are also highly regulated.
Regulation in moderation is needed to maintain healthy competition, just like sporting events need referees and officials to keep the game fair and exciting.
Excess regulation, on the other hand, can result in fewer innovations and lower profitability. Compare, for example, the performance of the telecom, materials and utilities sectors to Apple. The company has been the "winning driver" of the market over the past decade and its business operates in a less regulated environment.
Shortly after his death, Bloomberg wrote that Steve Jobs was "not just a techie visionary, but the virtuoso executive who built the world's second-most valuable company after Exxon Mobil." As you can see below, Apple's market capitalization has grown so significantly that J.P. Morgan declared the company a "sector unto itself." AAPL is now bigger than the telecom, materials and utilities sectors, generating more profit on an earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) basis than any of those sectors.
Bloomberg says Jobs "embodied the Silicon Valley entrepreneur," with an intensity and ingenuity that changed how people interacted with technology. How innovative could Steve Jobs be if Apple operated under an excessive regulatory environment?
Rules and regulations are unquestionably needed, yet there shouldn't be more officials than players. Apple's success is a great example of what can be accomplished in a free market with sufficient regulation. I believe policies that pursue a balance between prudent regulation and capitalistic risk-taking are necessary to help America maintain a competitive edge in today's challenging global economy.
All opinions expressed and data provided are subject to change without notice. Some of these opinions may not be appropriate to every investor. The following security mentioned was held by one or more of U.S. Global Investors Funds as of 3/31/12: Exxon Mobil.