Economist: In free market systems, the primary responsibility of corporate executives is to determine a nation' s industrial technology, the pattern of work organization, location of industry, and resource allocation  They also are the decision makers, though subject to significant consumer control, on what is to be produced and in what quantities  In short, a large category of major decisions is turned over to business executives
Thus, business executives have become public officials
The salaries of business executives are commensurate with the salaries of high-ranking public officials.