On 3 October 2008, the so-called 'Financial Institutions Bailout Bill' (Paulson Plan) included two sections (n? 132 and 133) relating to fair value (marked-to-market) accounting, the first giving authority to the SEC to suspend this method of accounting for reasons of public interest and investors protection, the second mandating further studies on its effects on balance sheets of firms, impact on the quality of financial information, and other matters. Regarding this and many other front page issues nowadays, history of economic thought may aid broader understanding, as the following piece from Schumpeter's "Theory of Economic Development" did with evergreen issues of marked-to-market accounting and economics of the business firm: http://ssrn.com/abstract=1276167 Yuri Biondi