Re: apocryphal soviet screw factory

[ken hanly <khanly@xxxxxxx>]

That reminds me of the short story by the Soviet writer M. Zoschenko. In the
story the electric bulb factory meets its wattage quota by producing only
500 watt bulbs at the end of the month. In a collective apartment using the
bulbs everyone complains. THe collective electricity bill goes up. The
disrepair of the apartment becomes glaringly obvious since the cracks are
all revealed by the bright lights. The  pensioners complain about the
students using lights at night and increasing costs..etc.etc..

Cheers, Ken Hanly

----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Perelman" <michael@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <PEN-L@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, August 21, 2004 3:54 PM
Subject: [PEN-L] apocryphal soviet screw factory


> I cannot locate an article that I clipped many years ago discussing the
apocryphal
> Soviet factory manager who supposedly met a weight quota for screw
production by
> producing useless 10 pound screws.  If anyone could help me, I would be
very
> grateful.
>
>  -- Michael Perelman
> Economics Department
> California State University
> Chico, CA 95929
>
> Tel. 530-898-5321
> E-Mail michael at ecst.csuchico.edu