Greed Economics :: essays papers

Greed Economics Pokemon, Microsoft and the Economics of Greed Greed Economics: The uplifting or debilitating effect of the excessive desire of gain on the production, consumption and distribution of goods and services. Solid proof that â€Å"greed economics† lives and breathes was recently found in Newswek’s Novmber 8th issue in an article entitled â€Å"Puffy’s Crowded Orbit†. Sean (Puffy) Combs is founder and CEO of the extremely profitable Bad Boy entertainment. In the billion dollar a year rap music industry, he is the cognac in a world of beer. In 1997, his first album, (carried by the hit â€Å"Missing You†), sold an extraordinary 6 million copies! But Comb’s who is known as much for his business savvy as for his musical talent, ignored the rules of â€Å"greed management† and recklessy expanded into publications, clothing lines and restaurants. The sale of his recent album â€Å"Forever†, despite a red-hot reputation and a 32-city promotional tour, was â€Å"weaker than weak†. Newsweek reports that in the first week of November â€Å"the album was No.27 on the charts.† The same article places his last years earnings at $5 3 million; well off his tyical $100 million-a-year earnings of the mid 1990’s. Sorry â€Å"Puff† the law is real. Greed affects quality. Inner-city America finds it of some interest that this law does not favor the rich, the politically plugged in, or the â€Å"white† of this world. America’ richest man, Bill Gates received a stunning setback earlier this month when Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson ruled against the $500 billion software company Microsoft, declaring that it violated antitrust law and was in fact a monopoly. In a Newsweek article dated November 15th rntitled â€Å"Bill Takes it on the Chin†, Judge Jackson stated: â€Å"Microsoft has demonstrated that it will use its prodigious market power and immense profits to harm any firm that insists on pursuing initiates that could intensify competion†. Why couldn’t Billy be satisfied with say a $100 billion company? The penalty for ignoring the law of â€Å"reed rationing† may include having the software giant broken down into a bunch of little midgets. Are you listening William? Greed attracts powerful enemies. Well why not remove greed out of the equation altogether? Isn’t it ALL poison? Can’t we find a few cheerleaders for total greed celibacy? Not on your life. Why? Because economically speaking, greed isn’t all that bad. Take for example the hugely successful video game-toy phenomena Pokemon.