"There are no national firms, it's all mom and pops," LePatnersays. About 90% of construction firms employ 10 people or less,when what the industry needs is national companies to cut down oninefficiencies and costs. He says the last major mom and pop wasthe garbage industry, which saw increased efficiency once WasteManagement stepped in.

LePatner says, "The increase (in total dollar amount) in only 13years has been phenomenal." He estimates the contractedconstruction industry accounts for 10% of GDP with a total of $1.23trillion. In 1993 the industry totaled $480 billion.

The increased capital is not just a result of real estate'sincreasing value. "Surveys that have analyzed productivity showstaggeringly that 40% to 60% of all dollars from the project nevergo into it." The money is funneled into inefficiency, poorcoordination, and "folks just standing around."