ABSTRACT
As Professional Engineers, I believe we all desire to produce the best bridges for the best cost. However, we live in a society that is ruled by the “bottom line,” which appears to be at the cost of quality in many instances. The emphasis on structural efficiency and excellence is losing ground due to the emphasis on doing the most for the dollar. I have seen that this is not only true in the United States, but also in Europe and in Asia. Economics are certainly important; however, it seems that we should not exclude structural excellence when developing economics.
