Regarding Steven Rattner's letter of July 22: Did it ever occur to Mr. Rattner that the reason for recent productivity improvement is that businesses have shed both marginally productive workers from operations, as well as scaled back employment in research and development? Even the same output divided by a reduced work force calculates to improved productivity.
The problems here, and with the self-aggrandizing thinking of the likes of Mr. Rattner, are: (1) nothing additional was produced (and maybe less), (2) businesses have learned they can get by (at least in the short term) with smaller work forces, and (3) we lose our innovative edge.
Bob Bernstein
Birmingham, Ala.
Mr. Rattner says corporations should share profits resulting from increased productivity with the workers. One may argue they have: The workers still have jobs.
Robert Seiler
Lake Forest, Ill.
