> Our current economic system defines economic productivity to be the thing that generates the highest economic returns according to the rules of the system.
If by "the rules of the system", you mean the idea that things are worth what people will voluntarily pay for them, then I agree with your definition. But that's not tautological. It is a distributed price-setting process that everyone contributes to through their own economic choices.
When it comes to charity, people contribute time and money based on their perceived impact. As a donor, I would value 100 new houses higher than 10 new houses, but that's just me. Other people are free to make different choices.
If by "the rules of the system", you mean the idea that things are worth what people will voluntarily pay for them, then I agree with your definition. But that's not tautological. It is a distributed price-setting process that everyone contributes to through their own economic choices.
When it comes to charity, people contribute time and money based on their perceived impact. As a donor, I would value 100 new houses higher than 10 new houses, but that's just me. Other people are free to make different choices.