Theory of Efficiency Constructions

The theory that efficiency is not a natural or neutral measure but a constructed concept—built by particular interests for particular purposes, shaped by social, economic, and political forces. Efficiency Constructions argues that what counts as "efficient" depends on who's asking, what they value, what they're trying to achieve. An efficient factory from an owner's perspective (maximizing output per worker) may be profoundly inefficient from a worker's perspective (maximizing exploitation). An efficient healthcare system from a budget perspective (minimizing cost) may be inefficient from a patient's perspective (minimizing care). The theory reveals that efficiency is always efficiency-for, never efficiency-in-itself.

Example: "He'd always thought efficiency was just efficiency—a neutral measure of how well things worked. The Theory of Efficiency Constructions showed him otherwise: efficiency was always constructed, always from some perspective. The factory was efficient for profits, not for workers; the policy was efficient for budgets, not for people. He stopped asking 'is it efficient?' and started asking 'efficient for whom?'"

by Abzugal February 21, 2026

Theory of Constructed Efficiency

A close cousin to the Theory of Efficiency Constructions, this theory emphasizes that efficiency is not discovered but made—built through decisions about what to measure, what to value, what to count. Constructed Efficiency argues that the very definition of efficiency is a social product, shaped by power and interests. An efficient transportation system might mean different things to commuters, environmentalists, and developers—and which definition prevails depends on who has power. The theory calls for examining how efficiency is constructed, whose interests its construction serves, and what alternatives are excluded.

Example: "The city claimed its new transit system was 'efficient.' The Theory of Constructed Efficiency asked: efficient for whom? Commuters? The system was slow. The environment? It ran on diesel. Developers? Property values near stops soared. The efficiency was constructed to serve real estate interests, not riders. Once she saw the construction, she couldn't unsee it."

by Abzugal February 21, 2026