Peril Profiteers
The pharmaceutical industry often falls under this category. Many pharmaceutical companies focus on developing treatments that manage chronic conditions over time, rather than finding outright cures. This approach ensures a steady demand for their products, as patients require ongoing medication.
Peril profiteers peddle treatment, not cure.
Another example is seen in industries that leverage planned obsolescence, where products are designed with a limited useful life or become outdated quickly, compelling consumers to make repeated purchases. Think lightbulbs - these malady-maintainers have a cartel that decide when lightbulbs should fail, knowing that the peril of darkness is not one people can live with, giving these companies an ongoing perpetual market.
In the cybersecurity sector, companies profit from the continuous existence of cyber threats like hackers and malware. Rather than eliminating these threats completely, which would potentially make their services redundant, infosec prospers by providing ongoing management, mitigation, or protection solutions.
In all these cases, the financial success of businesses is intricately linked to the continuous management of these issues, rather than their absolute resolution. Peril Profiteers aren't necessarily unethical but the underlying structural characteristics of certain industries creates incentives where perpetual problem management drives business success as opposed to actual success.
