>If a natural monopoly actually existed, we wouldn't have Google Fiber expanding across the country Internet access isn't a natural monopoly, it just has very,

>If a natural monopoly actually existed, we wouldn't have Google Fiber expanding across the country Internet access isn't a natural monopoly, it just has very, very, very, very high barriers to entry. You actually can run multiple cables down the same pipe easily enough (unlike water). It still approximates a monopoly, as can be seen by the fact that the barriers to entry have prevented even a company like Google with exceptionally deep pockets from muscling in. >In fact, Google Fiber's biggest impediment to expansion has been government regulators. Did you really think Verizon and Comcast were going to let their duopoly go without a fight? >The same goes with water provision - if it was a natural monopoly, we wouldn't have alternatives such as bottled water available on the market Bottled water is an entirely different market with a very limited level of substitution with tap water. >Using Russia as an example of free market failures Is entirely appropriate since they were advised by elite "free market economists" (the kind whom you would cite as justification for your opinions) to follow the policy course that they did. Unlike China, which followed the advice of its own (rather smarter) economists.