Traditional economic figures such as the GDP measure only a fraction of the needful work that is done, and much if that in a grossly distorted fashion.
- Mowing my lawn = $ (small cost in fuel, wear-n-tear on mower, etc)
- Having a neighborhood kid mow my lawn = $$
- Having a yard service take care of the lawn in front of the county courthouse = $$$
- Having a legal system incarcerate people, and have prisoners provide courthouse lawn service = Well that depends
Either $$ because prison labor is hugely discounted or $$$$$$$$$$$ because arresting, convicting, and incarcerating part of the population is enormously costly.
A similar argument can be made for managerial capitalism.
