Maximization or the Profit motive is an economics theory, that refers to individuals or societies gaining the maximum amount out of the resources they have available to them.[citation needed] The theory proposed by most economists is that maximization refers to the maximization of profit.[citation needed] This is criticized for being selfish. [1]
As some economists have begun to find out,[citation needed] this theory does not hold true for all people and cultures. The profit motive is not universal, and the profit motive does not seem to be applicable in all cases. Furthermore, maximization does not ensure optimization; i.e. the maximum level of resource use is not necessarily the optimal level. People maximize in a variety of things including profit, wealth, prestige, pleasure, comfort, and social harmony.
In today's culture, one might see many cases which explain maximization in a sense outside of profit. Occasionally, teachers may be teaching instead of working at a different, higher paying job. Another example may be a person trying to maximize personal comfort in which the person avoids a job and stays on welfare. This, certainly, is not maximizing monetary profit, but may be explained by economic theories about maximization of utility.
References
- Kottak, Conrad Phillip. Windows on Humanity. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2005.
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