the.com/profit motive
the invisible hand that only waves back when it's holding cash.
means the economic driver where individuals and businesses act to maximize financial gain, which theory says produces efficiency and innovation as a side effect.
from formalized by adam smith in 1776's wealth of nations, though the underlying idea (people respond to incentives) predates economics as a field entirely — smith just gave it a name and a moral defense.
smith's twistargued self-interest could serve the public good
critics' rebuttalmarx called it exploitation dressed as efficiency
modern test casepharma pricing shows both its genius and its failure