[PEN-L:11210] On "Efficiency"

["James Michael Craven" <CRAVJM@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On the first day of all of my classes, when introducing various
concepts of "efficiency" (technological, economic, productive,
consumer, exchange and allocative), I hand out the following:

          Rentabilitatsberechnung der SS uber Ausnutzung
          der Haftlinge in den Konzentrationslagern
           (Table of Profits (or yield) per prisoner in
             concentration camps (established by SS)

                    Rentabilitatsberechnung
                     (Rental accounting)

Taglicher Verlheilohn durchschnittlich          RM [Reichsmark] 6.00
 (Average income from rental of prisoner per day)

abzuglich Ernahrung                     RM 0.60
(Deduction for nourishment per day)

durchschnittl Lebensdauer          9 Mt = 270 x RM 5.30 = RM 1631.00
(Average life expectancy:9 months)

abzuglich Bekl Amort.              RM -.10
(minus amoprtization on clothing)  _________________________________

Erlos aus rationeller Verwertung der Leiche:
(Profits from rational utilization of corpse)

     1. Zahngold (Gold Teeth)        3. Wertsachen (Articles of value)

     2. Kleidung (Clothing)          4. Geld (Money)

abzuglich Verbrennungskosten      RM 2.00
(Minus costs of cremation)

durchschnittlicher Nettogewinn                              RM 200.00
(Average Net Profit)

Gesamtgewinn nach 9 Monaten                                RM 1631.00
(Total profit after 9 months)

zuruglich Erlos aus Knochen und  Aschenverwertung
(This estimate does not include profits from sale of bones and ashes)


This is from a copy of a captured SS document on concentration camp
accounting/"efficiency" or as the neoclassical texts promote,
"efficiency uber alles". I use this to povoke thought about how, by
whom, in whose interests, under what conditions/constraints is
"efficiency" defined and operationalized. In this case, increased
"efficiency" meant more death and genocide.

                            Jim Craven

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