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John Gapper

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.

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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

Detroit will dodge Obama’s fuel rules

Find the right buyer for your paper

How banks learnt to play the system

Madison Avenue feels the squeeze

Why global brands now rise in the east

Don’t set Goldman Sachs free, Mr Geithner

It’s good to get behind the wheel

We need to share the bill for bail-outs

AIG reinvents the trader’s option

The case for a Glass-Steagall ‘lite’