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A product that doesn't break is the nightmare of capitalism. It leads to poor sales for retailers. Consumption, however, is the engine of our economic system. Thus, we throw things away and buy new ones instead of repairing them, especially since it's often cheaper today. Since the light bulb cartel of the 1920s, many products don't last as long as they could: filaments burn out prematurely, laser printers stop working at the command of a chip, and every three years a new computer is needed because the old one can no longer keep up with the latest operating system. There is a system behind this: "Planned obsolescence" is the principle that intentionally shortens the lifespan of products from the very beginning. Thanks to cheap production and wasteful use of resources, it has become a cornerstone of consumer societies and their obsession with economic growth.