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This is exactly why I think monopolies are awful, but at the same time not a concern for legislation. Monopolies only persist in the long term - i.e. exist as
by duncan_bayne 9y ago
This is exactly why I think monopolies are awful, but at the same time not a concern for legislation. Monopolies only persist in the long term - i.e. exist as _true_ monopolies - when enforced with the force of law.
- ghshephard 9y ago...Excepting of course, Natural Monopolies - which are probably rarer than you might think For example - "Gas" delivery might be considered a natural monopoly - but I know people (in fact, pretty much everyone I know) doesn't care about having a Gas Hookup - they just have someone carry large containers of gas into their kitchen. The things last forever. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_monopoly https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_monopoly
- duncan_bayne 9y agoI'm not even sure most of those count. Look at energy distribution as an example - I grew up in New Zealand, the country cited. If the monopolist drives prices too high, that'll just encourage people to abandon the grid for alternatives like microgrids.
- ghshephard 9y agoRight - like I said, even "Natural Monopoly" is less frequent that you might think. Though, in a dense urban area - you don't have a lot of choice over who delivers your power, water, and removes your sewage. Very difficult for competitors to come in and add new distribution lines for each of those in heavily built urban areas (unlike Comms, where lots of ability to add new fiber, new RF, etc...)