That extra layer of regulation will come at a cost for many banks, particularly small ones.

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But rather than closing, schools, particularly small ones, are likely to join forces.

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The Sarbanes-Oxley Act has imposed enormous costs on businesses, particularly small ones, yet these paperwork burdens have not prevented corporate fraud. (And this bureaucratic delight didn't ban corporate executives from lucratively backdating stock options, thereby generating huge gains with virtually no risk.) Those intent on wrongdoing will easily find ways around paper barriers.

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In fact, part of the reason for the fervent interest in these topics is that the free, unfettered internet and free educational resources (particularly those related to science and technology like the ones MITx is offering) and the small companies that emerge from them are closer to the heart of job creation than large corporations.

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