Three contractors are bidding to fix a broken fence at the White House in D.C. One from Pakistan, another from India and the third, from China. They go with a White House official to examine the fence.
The Indian contractor takes out a tape measure and does some measuring, then works some figures with a pencil. "Well", he says, "I figure the job will run about $900: $400 for materials, $400 for my crew and $100 profit for me...."
The Chinese contractor also does some measuring and figuring, then says, "I can do this job for $700: $300 for materials, $300 for my crew and $100 profit for me."
The Pakistani contractor doesn't measure or figure, but leans over to the White House official and whispers, "$2,700."
The official, incredulous, says, "You didn't even measure like the other guys! How did you come up with such a high figure?"
The Pakistani contractor whispers back, "$1000 for me, $1000 for you, and we hire the guy from China to fix the fence."
"Done!", replies the government official.*
The Indian contractor takes out a tape measure and does some measuring, then works some figures with a pencil. "Well", he says, "I figure the job will run about $900: $400 for materials, $400 for my crew and $100 profit for me...."
The Chinese contractor also does some measuring and figuring, then says, "I can do this job for $700: $300 for materials, $300 for my crew and $100 profit for me."
The Pakistani contractor doesn't measure or figure, but leans over to the White House official and whispers, "$2,700."
The official, incredulous, says, "You didn't even measure like the other guys! How did you come up with such a high figure?"
The Pakistani contractor whispers back, "$1000 for me, $1000 for you, and we hire the guy from China to fix the fence."
"Done!", replies the government official.*
yup