Legislative efforts to rein in executive pay have been largely symbolic

The Great Recession sparked outrage over the exorbitant salaries and bonuses going to those viewed as responsible for causing the economic crisis. In spite of the public outcry, governmental efforts to limit executive pay failed to enact any real change. Sandra Suárez compares the legislative responses to corporate salaries after the Great Depression and the Great Recession, arguing that efforts in both cases were largely symbolic rather than actual attempts to curb the salaries of those at the top.