[mischanix]

So if I rob a bank for $2MM, but spend $1.95MM on contractors to do the job, I should only be fined $50k?

[n42]

no. but when you are calculating if the job is worth the risk, you would look at the $50k vs the jail time.

[sokoloff]

If you want to understand whether there are systemic forces at play which serve to reinforce an undesirable behavior, you should compare the fine to the expected profit not to the expected revenue.