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What a terrible article. The title and the first paragraph talk about how new business models are circumventing existing laws, which seems fair enough and actua
by constantcrying 2y ago
What a terrible article. The title and the first paragraph talk about how new business models are circumventing existing laws, which seems fair enough and actually quite an interesting subject.
Then, there is a switch to the most traditional of businesses with the most traditional business models. Who, the author argues, are engaging in price gauging. In the second paragraph he claims that apps cause this inflation ("so much of inflation can be attributed to a crime, done with an app"), then goes on to list a couple of traditional companies who are, he argues rising prices above inflation. And who he partially blames for inflation.
None of the examples he gives support the case he is trying to make in his title. Apparently being an "App" has absolutely zero to do with getting away with financial misdeeds.
None of the questions raised by the title are even investigated. And the core argument, that traditional companies are causing inflation, is never argued for. The last paragraph portraits a stunning lack of economic knowledge, as companies raising prices in line with inflation obviously would not lower prices after the source of the inflation is gone. The source of the inflation being gone does not cause inflation to reverse. And so the fair market price would not get lower, getting something so basic wrong seems ridiculous for someone leveling serious accusations at companies.
- yieldcrv 2y agoBlog posts are just random comments that would get torn apart, but elevated as worthy of discussion because its in an app.
- adminu 2y ago> Then, there is a switch to the most traditional of businesses with the most traditional business models. Who, the author argues, are engaging in price gauging. In the second paragraph he claims that apps cause this inflation He is saying that the traditional businesses use an app that allows for a legal way of price gauging. > The last paragraph portraits a stunning lack of economic knowledge, as companies raising prices in line with inflation obviously would not lower prices after the source of the inflation is gone. The author claims, that these companies raise prices more than inflation based cost increases in production would allow for.
- gruez 2y ago>The author claims, that these companies raise prices more than inflation based cost increases in production would allow for. That's just supply and demand? People get mad that when there's an oil shortage, that oil companies raise prices above the cost of production, but they're happy to see oil companies' margin collapse when there's an oil glut.
- Pooge 2y ago> People get mad that when there's an oil shortage, that oil companies raise prices above the cost of production It's a bit different when they all (i.e. cartel) agree to keep the same price even after the shock has passed, isn't it?
- amazingamazing 2y agoif there's clear evidence to this, it's illegal
- bdangubic 2y agounder what statute would this be illegal?
- amazingamazing 2y agosherman act in usa
- Arainach 2y agoDid we read the same article? There are repeated examples of cartels colluding to fix prices which aren't being prosecuted because they're using a third party (app) to coordinate the collusion rather than doing it in a board room.
- ogleopoly 2y ago[flagged]
- refulgentis 2y agoI noticed you mistook "gouging" for "gauging", which I agree, would change it to an obviously-wrong essay that failed to back up anything. There's a lot of other stuff that is unclear (questions in the title? the article says inflation goes in reverse?), but that one thing neatly explains the vibe that might have driven the rest.
- bschne 2y agoThis is what has repeatedly bothered me about Doctorow, he writes quite compellingly on the surface, but the arguments are often sketchy at best, and the pandering to/expression of outrage often dominates any attempts at clear analysis.
- ogleopoly 2y ago[flagged]
- latency-guy2 2y agoIt's you saying that. Notice how none of what you said appears in their comment. This is a strong indicator that you are arguing against yourself.
- ogleopoly 2y ago[flagged]
- FrustratedMonky 2y agoPerhaps if there was a tighter line pointing at corporations using 'apps'. Traditional rental property corporations, were pre-existing, and also adopted the use of an 'app' that allowed them to raise prices over the inflation rate. So, traditional corps, taking advantage of the new 'app-crime-for-free' model. But really, where the logic broke down a little. Was all those 'crime-apps' are actually reducing prices for most part. So should help inflation not hurt it.
- qwerty_clicks 2y agoWhile some of the article’s leading point in apps doesn’t clearly connected to collusion to raise egg prices, it’s all valid. Tearing it all down is sore of you.
- ogleopoly 2y ago[flagged]
- 1vuio0pswjnm7 2y agohttps://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/methinks+thou+dost+protest+too+much https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/methinks+thou+dost+prot... More on Potatotrac: https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/legaldocs/byprmmxmwve/Govea%2520v%2520Potatoes%2520USA%252020241117.pdf https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/legaldocs/byprmmxmwve/... https://ia800109.us.archive.org/34/items/gov.uscourts.ilnd.470809/gov.uscourts.ilnd.470809.1.0.pdf https://ia800109.us.archive.org/34/items/gov.uscourts.ilnd.4...
- elicksaur 2y agoThe fact that this is seemingly the top comment shows how entrenched HN’s typical user is in making money off the predatory practices articulated thoroughly in the article.