>This perspective of public vs private interest is rather puzzling to me -- it's more a matter of short-term vs long-term thinking.
I actually think a long-term vs short-term view is insufficient. Let's step away from firms and take the case of the rich and the poor individual. For the poor individual it is in their interest in the short and long-term interest to have universal healthcare. For the rich individual, it is in their short and long-term interest to prevent universal healthcare. According to the investment theory of party competition [1] this rich vs poor divide becomes reflected in our politics as both parties vie for the donations of the wealthy.
I actually think a long-term vs short-term view is insufficient. Let's step away from firms and take the case of the rich and the poor individual. For the poor individual it is in their interest in the short and long-term interest to have universal healthcare. For the rich individual, it is in their short and long-term interest to prevent universal healthcare. According to the investment theory of party competition [1] this rich vs poor divide becomes reflected in our politics as both parties vie for the donations of the wealthy.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Investment_theory_of_party_com...