I have some sympathy for the idea that these fines are a form of "stochastic taxation". There are so many rules, arbitrarily enforced and ever changing, that a

I have some sympathy for the idea that these fines are a form of "stochastic taxation". There are so many rules, arbitrarily enforced and ever changing, that a large company will bleed off a billion now and then whatever you do. I think that definitely happens, but I'd guess it's the smaller part of the equation.