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WalterBrightyesterday at 11:19 PM1 replyview on HN

Nope. The working week reduced hours.

Those factories were not producing luxury goods. They produced everyday items for the masses. Things like knives, spoons, tools, textiles, ketchup bottles, shoes, furniture, nails, bicycles, etc.

Standard Oil, for example, improved efficiency and reduced the consumer price of kerosene 70%.

There's no evidence of outsized profits.


Replies

nixon_why69today at 1:33 AM

Standard oil is the textbook example of an abusive monopoly and was broken up for that reason.

They improved efficiency by cutting exclusive deals with railroads and transport companies due to their size which froze out every other company.

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