this post was submitted on 03 Dec 2023
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Efficient at what, making profit for themselves?
Why is profit an only measure for efficiency?
Because we live in a capitalistic society.
In this case it's the definition of efficiency. Efficiency = (resources used up) compared to (resources taken in). How else would you even calculate it?
Yes the actual work that is getting done by the company or government is important too. Private companies generally do better at efficiency of getting work done (products or services being produced) than government. This is because government agencies are burdened with an unimaginable amount of levels of bureaucracy which kills the shit out of any efficiency. The government is the ultimate bureaucracy.
Anyone who has worked for both the government and private sector can tell you all about this. When I worked for the government it was the most boring job ever and there was so little actual work getting done that I would sit around reading a book on the job, waiting for something to do. At every non-govt job I've had that would not fly because the employer would see the dollars vanishing for my paid-to-do-nothing hours and put me to work doing something productive.
Efficient at using up all resources and extracting as much value from them as possible.
Getting maximum value for minimal expenditure. (In order to maximize profits) But if that thing previously was run at a loss by the government, than running at a profit to someone other than the government is still better as long as the need is simple and competitive so they can't just cut quality or price gauge.