I feel this image is more “how it starts and how it becomes, when left unregulated”. Many people that brought products to the market did so with good intentions and sought to be competitive. When companies start getting bigger and are then allowed to buy up their direct competitors, that is when the model falls apart. As the focus shifts from what’s best for the customer into what will help the company maintain its spot on top. In many cases by making it near impossible for newer companies to enter the market. From raising the legal barriers of entry in their industry to dropping the products prices to unprofitable levels until any new competition can’t afford to stay open to compete. Monopolies should be broken up.
Modified and regulated capitalism is the only ethical capitalism imo. By that I mean there needs to be room for fair competition and there needs be something like a Universal Basic Income in place. As capitalism itself doesn’t help people get their basic needs met. People need to be able to afford things within the system to keep it going. Small businesses would benefit a lot from their customers and employees both benefiting from a basic income, as customers would have money disposable income and employees would not have to rely so much on their employers pay to meet their basic needs.
Yeah it’s usually a huge shift when a company goes public, and then their sole and highest priority is quarterly increase in profits to increase shareholder value, which generally means enshittification of everything to make a few more cents on the dollar.
So to add to your regulations, I think a “slow burn” version of the stock market needs to exist. Rather than hyper quant AI hedge fund trading by the second, stock purchases should be a required hold for a period of time, like a bond. If you truly believe in the company, you believe in its more long term growth than tomorrow’s trade show or that one tweet that Elon made.
It shouldn’t be legal for the interest of shareholders to outweigh the interest of stakeholders. Companies need to be beholden to stakeholders only; while shareholders are a part of the stakeholders in a company, their interests should be equal to each of the other stakeholders.
I agree, stocks don’t need to be short term investments that people can day trade to game.
Also, the millionaires and billionaires that own stock should be forced to sell their shares instead of being allowed to use their stock as collateral. These people can evade paying taxes on their money for their whole lives while still gaining the effects of actually using that money since the stock doesn’t need to be sold to be useable.
Hey, got any grapes?
Just Wrath
It actually works both ways. They try to produce the most attractive (not best!) product at the lowest cost.
Thats not working both ways, you just admited they arent trying to make the best product.
In terms of business, it’s better if it sells better, not if it’s made better. The best product is the one that sells. A perfect product that doesn’t sell isn’t the best, it’s the worst.
The best product for a business is the one that the customer has no choice but buying from only them.
The claim is that marketing will inform the consumer what qualities are better, but the reality is all lies.
If there were more transparency, if the customer could reliably tell the difference, then the best product is more likely to win. However modern capitalism works with marketing to fool the customer for highest profit
Well no, that is just one option.
The actual (sole) goal is to profit the most.
Oh you sweet summer child
