"Profit"- presently, because I don't want to attempt to develop the full issue right here and now, I will be somewhat brief. I am also going to generalize in a somewhat simplistic way. Over the last 40+years there has been a major significant trend in the number of public corporations in the US.



Here's a good source-

https://corpgov.law.harvard.edu/2017/05/18/looking-behind-the-declining-number-of-public-companies/

to explain some of the dynamics. However, change in number does not necessarily affect change in the dynamics of "profit taking" if there is even any to begin with.



Simultaneously, sort-of, there has been a significant trend in consolidation of money flows, after any fact of any real profit distribution. And yes, unfortunately really, but fortunately for you, you are one of the present beneficiaries of the present consolidation of "money flows". The Democrats, which you effectively represent as an economic policy spokesman are no more idealists than the Republicans. So, you are in the same bucket. So even though you are superficially, as an academe, part of the superficially identified ( correctly, or incorrectly) elite. So a lot of money is being directed in certain political channels, very effectively, and privately.



My predicament: I am not. I am one of the little fishies in the sea, that has been attempting to avoid getting snared. So I have to be extremely skeptical, while I appreciate what you have written. Everybody has to make money to survive. You make your money by writing on economics, and teaching about economics. I barely have a change of getting, let alone keeping any money at all. A good majority of people are in the same predicament. I am being quite presumptuous that you are in a better predicament than I am. I am acknowledging that you are the "informer" and I am trying to be "informed". I just have to be real careful in the process to stay alive. I presume you do not have to be as careful as I do, as I presume my resources are less than yours. I do not benefit from the money flows that I cannot even catch a glimmer, in the deep dark sea.



I personally really appreciate what you have written in your article. You are attempting "effectiveness" and to do more than some of the other economists. "Doing" in the real world is difficult work.



It's also kinda like fishing. Some lines really catch a fish, but a lot of lines get lost in the water. And a lot of fish never catch on.(It depends if you are in or out of the water, and how hot it is.)



Anyway, I thought your graph really was a difficult one to interpret quickly and easily for the real deep subject that you were addressing. Who really notices decimal points and the fact of just what a minuscule amount is depicted, relatively speaking/writing?



Applebaum also starts to pose the question for some of the real dilemma.



You finally address some ethical concerns, and economists have been avoiding ethical responsibility for years now. Really, how many so-called economic specialists really know all that much about economics?

Theoretics, statistics and reality are different realms.



Time factors really need to be addressed by more economists than just you, and publicly like you are doing. It is definitely challenging, and you are probably very busy with your class schedules and professional focus.



Would you address M2 and money velocity sometime?



The political mis-focus nationwide is just distracting from any reasonable discourse about the real revenue decreases, and real causes. I think it is deliberate strategic political maneuvering due to focus on "winning elections" and ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ELSE. That focus really shows in the "news" about the present administration. It's hard to even conjecture if it was a Hillary regime. SNL did a great job, and I only saw snippets of the satire!



Taxes are necessary, as much as we all hate giving up our share of any pot. (there's a lot of puns there!)



Ethics, honesty and a clear picture needs to be communicated more so than ever today, especially publicly, and especially on certain platforms.



As soon as I get access to Yale's online data through OSU, hopefully, I would love to meander through some of Tobin's ideas that I think are just horribly ignored, and if not ignored, mis-applied.



So, I am ending with an unmurky challenge.



Again, happy holidays!