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John Gapper is associate editor and chief business commentator of the Financial Times. He writes a weekly column, appearing on Thursdays on the comment page, about business trends and strategy. He also contributes leaders and other articles.
He has worked for the FT since 1987, covering labour relations, banking and the media. In 1991-92, he was a Harkness fellow of the Commonwealth Fund of New York, and studied US education and training at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He is co-author, with Nicholas Denton, of All That Glitters, an account of the collapse of Barings in 1995.
NEW: Read John Gapper’s Business Blog
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Madoff’s sentence is necessary and rare
The 71-year-old fraudster’s conduct was indefensible and he deserved what he got, writes John Gapper. But the case was unusual. The question is whether Bernard Madoff’s spectacular sentence should become the benchmark for future cases of corporate fraud. I think not
Victims have their moment but the suffering goes on
After Monday, there will be no more court hearings to attend and Mr Madoff will disappear into a high security prison for life. The victims will be left with a long, frustrating battle to try to recover some of their money
Apple’s network helps prevent a fall
It seems odd that companies can gain an advantage by working with others and by sharing knowledge. Yet being part of a network not only can help a company to gain from others’ knowledge but also can reinforce its market position, as Apple’s contest with Palm shows, writes John Gapper
Technology is for revolution (and repression)
Every Twitter follower who signs on for updates about popular protests in Iran or China signals their revolutionary sympathies, says John Gapper
The hidden cost of giving away vaccines
One-off gifts of childhood vaccines can cause more harm than good. Developing countries obtain far greater benefits from being offered guaranteed low prices for a vaccine over several years, enabling them to plan vaccination properly. What matters most is not one-off initiatives but the long-run cost of a vaccine, says John Gapper
Turf warriors head for Washington
We are about to observe the next phase in the government’s attempt to stabilise the US financial system. It is about to launch its effort to reform the notoriously tangled and overlapping system of financial regulation. It is vital to get this right, says John Gapper
General Motors goes to the garage
Chapter 11 gives chief executive Fritz Henderson room to manoeuvre in stripping down GM’s balance sheet, curbing its healthcare and pension liabilities and closing reluctant dealers. But can he remould GM for the long-term, rather than just foster a cyclical revival, asks John Gapper
Three went into crisis and three will emerge
The question is whether General Motors and Chrysler can achieve consistent profitability, says John Gapper
When not cutting prices becomes a luxury
Discounting can exact a terrible price, as the imminent bankruptcy of General Motors shows. The company was the king of price-discounting even in the good times. But luxury and premium brands have grown so much that their owners cannot choose from a menu of cutting costs, output or prices. All are required, says John Gapper
Wolfram Alpha asks some searching questions of the web
While search engines are a starting point in a quest to find things out, Wolfram Alpha provides complete answers, writes John Gapper
