--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: All of these agencies were enormously…" description: "\"“All of these agencies were enormously active during the so-called laissez-faire era. As the former CEO of BB&T Bank John Allison notes, “Government sp..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be3/don-watkins-23222_government-spending_all-of-these-agencies-were-enormously-ac_272283.jpg" --- # All of these agencies were enormously active during the… ![“All of these agencies were enormously active during the so-called laissez-faire era. As the former CEO of BB&T Bank John Allison notes, “Government spending alone . . . on financial regulations (not company bailouts) increased, in adjusted dollars, from $725 million in 1980 to $2.07 billion in…” quote by Don Watkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be3/don-watkins-23222_government-spending_all-of-these-agencies-were-enormously-ac_272283.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be3/don-watkins-23222_government-spending_all-of-these-agencies-were-enormously-ac_272283.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be3/don-watkins-23222_government-spending_all-of-these-agencies-were-enormously-ac_272283.jpg) > ““All of these agencies were enormously active during the so-called laissez-faire era. As the former CEO of BB&T Bank John Allison notes, “Government spending alone . . . on financial regulations (not company bailouts) increased, in adjusted dollars, from $725 million in 1980 to $2.07 billion in 2007.”41 Meanwhile, between 1980 and 2009, for every one instance of financial deregulation, there were four instances of new financial regulation.42 It is one thing to claim that regulators didn’t do their job during the last few decades, or that the government should have placed even more regulatory restrictions on the financial industry—all that is debatable—but it is quite another thing to describe the last few decades as a time when financial markets were deregulated, let alone unregulated.43”” [Don Watkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-watkins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote argues that despite claims of deregulation, financial regulation actually increased significantly from 1980 to 2007, with many new rules introduced. **In simple terms:** Regulation grew despite claims of deregulation. Key Takeaway Recognize that regulation often expands even when perceived otherwise. Themes regulation economics policy history government Mood analytical critical informative Type explanatory historical policy‑analysis When to use this quote - academic research - policy analysis - financial industry - government budgeting Key Concepts Regulatory dynamics public perception policy cycles Questions to Reflect On - How do we measure true regulatory change? - What drives cycles of deregulation and regulation? A Different Perspective Regulatory impact can be obscured by political narratives. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Customer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/customer/) [Financial Deregulation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/financial-deregulation-2659217/) [Financial Market](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/financial-market/) [Financial regulation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/financial-regulation/) [Financial Regulations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/financial-regulations-2659218/) [Government spending](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-spending/) [Markets Deregulated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/markets-deregulated-2659220/) [Regulators Didn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regulators-didn-2659219/) ## Related quotes > [Getting small things like Visa or driving licence should be made easier as we, in financial service sectors, are dealing with financial regulations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanda-kochhar/getting-small-things-like-visa-or-driving-licence-should-be-made/) [Chanda Kochhar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanda-kochhar/) > [There is a very real danger that financial regulation will become a wolf in sheep's clothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-paulson/there-is-a-very-real-danger-that-financial-regulation-will-become-a/) [Henry Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-paulson/) > [I find it very difficult to see a scenario where financial regulation doesn't pass the Senate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-corker/i-find-it-very-difficult-to-see-a-scenario-where-financial-regulation/) [Bob Corker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-corker/) > [The Fed should make a clear commitment to stable money to reduce the swings in interest rates and inflation. 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As the former CEO of BB&T Bank John Allison notes, “Government spending alone . . . on financial regulations (not company bailouts) increased, in adjusted dollars, from $725 million in 1980 to $2.07 billion in 2007.”41 Meanwhile, between 1980 and 2009, for every one instance of financial deregulation, there were four instances of new financial regulation.42 It is one thing to claim that regulators didn’t do their job during the last few decades, or that the government should have placed even more regulatory restrictions on the financial industry—all that is debatable—but it is quite another thing to describe the last few decades as a time when financial markets were deregulated, let alone unregulated.43”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Don Watkins" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-watkins/all-of-these-agencies-were-enormously-active-during-the-so-called/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Customer" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-watkins/all-of-these-agencies-were-enormously-active-during-the-so-called/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be3/don-watkins-23222_government-spending_all-of-these-agencies-were-enormously-ac_272283.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be3/don-watkins-23222_government-spending_all-of-these-agencies-were-enormously-ac_272283.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be3/don-watkins-23222_government-spending_all-of-these-agencies-were-enormously-ac_272283.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“All of these agencies were enormously active during the so-called laissez-faire era. 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