There are two railroads. They are both transcontinental. The first railroad is built quickly. But it fails just as quickly. The railroad has massive inefficiencies. It has high grades as it snakes through the mountains. The tracks are built poorly, and quickly need replacement. It has no tributaries to bring product to the main line. Beyond these structural flaws, the company has major management problems. The owners of the company have set up a shell corporation. They are skimming from the investors—overcharging their own railroad company for basic supplies. Ultimately, the line is unprofitable, the company goes bankrupt, and the system collapses. Many jobs are lost, but a few—the owners—escape with a massive new fortune courtesy of their investors.
A Tale of Two Railroads
A Tale of Two Railroads
A Tale of Two Railroads
There are two railroads. They are both transcontinental. The first railroad is built quickly. But it fails just as quickly. The railroad has massive inefficiencies. It has high grades as it snakes through the mountains. The tracks are built poorly, and quickly need replacement. It has no tributaries to bring product to the main line. Beyond these structural flaws, the company has major management problems. The owners of the company have set up a shell corporation. They are skimming from the investors—overcharging their own railroad company for basic supplies. Ultimately, the line is unprofitable, the company goes bankrupt, and the system collapses. Many jobs are lost, but a few—the owners—escape with a massive new fortune courtesy of their investors.
Comments on this post are for paid subscribers