Companies who stay private can do this. It’s when you have investors that you’re fucked and the ponzi scheme starts.

The idea, in its purest form, is that companies will innovate to keep investors happy. They will keep expanding and making wonderful new products. As an example, a printer company will start making phones, then laptops, then maybe expand into chemicals or farm equipment, making bold innovations at every step.

Companies who can’t innovate do this shit (inflate prices until they suck) and then they die because they’re no longer competitive.

…in theory.