Let's keep it simple and put executive pay to rights

The fund management industry has been wearing the emperor's clothes for years. It is surely about time someone in power pointed this out and started mocking.

"Markets are not always perfect at setting pay," Lex drones, "but they are better than government meddling fuelled by cheap populism."

What's the evidence for that?
A good dose of cheap populism might at least be worth a go, even if only as an alternative to the usual approach.

Executive pay is one of those issues where it is clear that democracy is failing. The vast majority of the electorate wants to see something done about it but no elected official seems able to take charge, always preferring deference to someone called Markets, who doesn't even vote.
"Ministers must acknowledge the issue's complexities," Lex bangs on.

No they mustn't. Making pay deals needlessly complex is partly how executives and remuneration consultants conspire to shove through indefensible awards. Ministers should make it look and sound as plain as it so
often is.

If the share price halves and the chief executive's pay doubles, that's not complex. It's a fix.