Jack Ma on Government and Business | Generated by AI
Question: How to understand Jack Ma’s statement that the government runs the best business model?
Answer:
Jack Ma, the founder of Alibaba, has not been documented saying that “the government runs the best business model.” Extensive searches across English and Chinese sources, including his known quotes, speeches, and interviews, do not reveal any such statement.
Instead, Jack Ma has repeatedly expressed caution about close involvement with governments in business. One of his most famous quotes on this topic is: “Never ever do business with the government. Be in love with them, never marry them.” This means entrepreneurs should maintain good relations with the government (to operate smoothly and avoid conflicts) but avoid deep partnerships or dependencies, as governments can be unpredictable, bureaucratic, or change policies abruptly.
This advice likely stems from his experiences in China, where private businesses must navigate regulatory environments carefully. For example:
- Governments have a monopoly on certain powers (like taxation, law enforcement, and printing money), which can resemble a “perfect” model in terms of guaranteed revenue without typical market competition.
- However, Ma warns against emulating or tying too closely to it, as private enterprises thrive on innovation, customer focus, and agility—qualities often lacking in government operations.
The rumored statement may be a misremembered or misinterpreted version of discussions about how governments collect taxes compulsorily (a “forced subscription” model with no refunds), making it enviably stable from a pure revenue perspective. But Ma’s actual views emphasize empowering small businesses and customers, not praising government models.
In summary, the quote appears apocryphal. Ma’s philosophy prioritizes private innovation while respectfully cooperating with authorities, not viewing government as an ideal business exemplar.
References:
- https://quotefancy.com/jack-ma-quotes (“Never ever do business with the government. Be in love with them, never marry them.”)
- https://graciousquotes.com/jack-ma/ (Collection of verified Jack Ma quotes including the government advice)
- https://www.azquotes.com/author/9187-Jack_Ma (Similar quote collections confirming the cautionary stance)