Lots of executives aren't judged on their final contribution to the bottom line but the size of their 'empire' or project 'successes' they can point to.
There are also plenty of examples of work that is profitable to a company but that doesn't create value to consumers:
* Campaign Donations / Lobbying for favourable regulations.
* Softbank style monopoly creation (it's just moving investor money to consumers).
* Patent Trolls and lots of semi-patent trolling games. (Think Amazon buying Kiva)
* Misleading / Emotive advertising. (Which I'd argue is the majority of it.)
If you're hell bent on thinking markets are inherently fair you can contort yourself to show these things _can_ be productive but to think they're always productive?
> Lots of executives aren't judged on their final contribution to the bottom line but the size of their 'empire' or project 'successes' they can point to.
Who is incentivized to hold executives responsible for the bottom line, board members and shareholders?
> If you're hell bent on thinking markets are inherently fair you can contort yourself to show these things _can_ be productive but to think they're always productive?
I agree, insomuch that many 'profitable ventures' don't increase the aggregate material wealth of the country.
There are also plenty of examples of work that is profitable to a company but that doesn't create value to consumers:
* Campaign Donations / Lobbying for favourable regulations.
* Softbank style monopoly creation (it's just moving investor money to consumers).
* Patent Trolls and lots of semi-patent trolling games. (Think Amazon buying Kiva)
* Misleading / Emotive advertising. (Which I'd argue is the majority of it.)
If you're hell bent on thinking markets are inherently fair you can contort yourself to show these things _can_ be productive but to think they're always productive?