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No, I don't think it's simply a supply problem. As much as it pains me to use a reductionist metaphor, I'm going to. Suppose my community has a finite amount o
by evanlivingston 8y ago
No, I don't think it's simply a supply problem.
As much as it pains me to use a reductionist metaphor, I'm going to. Suppose my community has a finite amount of resource X available to us that we need to live and and we only require 75% of that resource. A company comes along and offers individuals a whole pile a money to sell of their claims to the resource, so much so that the company now controls 90% of that resource. The company begins boxing up that resource and shipping it off to people who will pay more money for that resource. My community now has meet their need another way, and probably in a more expensive way.
Regardless of how the resource should have been managed, and what the authorities in my community should have done to ensure we had the necessary access to our resource I think I can still point a finger at the company say "If that company didn't exist they wouldn't control our resource."
Obviously the metaphor is riddled with unconsidered complexities but I use it as a way of raising the question of at least an ounce of culpability of the company.
- ng12 8y agoIf AirBnBs overtook 90% of the apartments in your neighborhood this example might be relevant. > The company begins boxing up that resource and shipping it off to people who will pay more money for that resource. Unless you live in Christiana this is probably already the case. AirBnBs tend to be in expensive neighborhoods.
- evanlivingston 8y agoIf it were not the case that the resource was being shipped off and sold for more that would mean I could stay in an AirBnB for the same price as a pay for rent, which I can't.
- ng12 8y agoThat's pretty absurd -- you're paying a discount for being a long-term tenant with a legally binding contract (and no cleaning/daily upkeep). Would you expect buying a home versus AirBnBing one to cost the same over 10+ years?
- evanlivingston 8y agoThe end product that consumes the resource may be different but the availability of the resource my community needs to sustain life is compromised when it's arbitraged.
- ng12 8y agoWhat if landlords charging market-rent rate compromises your community? What you're saying only makes sense if you don't live in a capitalist society.
- evanlivingston 8y agoExactly.
- ng12 8y agoWell.. sure. I agree that AirBnB would be bad in a communist enclave.