Another interesting read. I'd like to note that (while it wasn't the focus of the essay), many of the expensive "checks" aren't there for monetary reasons, but rather human safety and the dire consequences of a poor decision.

Working at Motorola on cell phone code could be a great way to give everyone in the modern world a cool new feature - or accidentally break 20+% of all phones out there. A terrible Mickey Mouse movie could destroy a brand. Take it a step further to NASA, vehicle engine design (and safety), oil pipelining and refining, etc. and the cost could be human lives.

That said, I'm very interested in the cost of these "checks" on those industries. Not monetary costs (although important), but rather the cost in stifled future innovation.

Thoughts?