[anon291]

The myth of exponential growth is not that companies can't grow exponentially forever (since that's the case for most companies) but rather that the valuation of these companies depends on exponential growth (it does not). Most public companies in the United states do not experience the exponential growth many tech startups do, but do perfectly well for themselves, their customers, and their employees.

No one is pushing for exponential growth. If a company wants to stop, declare a dividend, and be done with it, and let investors choose a new rodeo.

[pjmlp]

Except that isn't what happens, instead every year a new goal that has to be X % higher is set, and when expectations are not met, the employees are the ones landing on the street for stupid values of X%.

The one signing off on X% might even get a bonus for doing that, and enjoy some Bahamas vacations.

[anon291]

In tech sure, but in the market, many companies simply return dividends. Lots of mining stocks, retailers, commodity producers, etc don't experience exponential growth

[johnnyanmac]

indeed. but tech gets some new boom every 3 years and that's why no company worth their salt is going to settle on dividends. It's still growing fast, so companies expect fast growth. Even in the recession they don't want to pretend exists but knows exists.

[pjmlp]

In this case we're talking about tech sector anyway.