> because corporations are economizing in accordance to a variety of factors. Except, they're not. Planned obsolescence is not about economizing for other fact

> because corporations are economizing in accordance to a variety of factors. Except, they're not. Planned obsolescence is not about economizing for other factors, it is about rent seeking. You seem to be dismissing the findings of this research without even understanding it. The entire point is that this research has demonstrated that the planned obsolescence in question is has to do with cartel formation and rent seeking rather than striving for a competitive edge in a competitive market. This rent seeking only happens in non-competitive, oligopolistic or monopolistic markets. Cartel formation and operation is a well understood economic phenomenon. You seem to be doubting it based on some kind of faith in the free market, some kind of faith in the infallibility of markets. Adam Smith would have strong words against this kind of naive market-worship.