Monopoly is a misnomer, because it implies a single seller. In reality any market with a small number of incumbents will exhibit anti-competitive behavior, whic

Monopoly is a misnomer, because it implies a single seller. In reality any market with a small number of incumbents will exhibit anti-competitive behavior, which is what people usually mean when they talk about monopolies and antitrust law. With a third of the market, a single company can effectively set prices based on desired margins, rather than having to compete on price. Do you have evidence for your claim about well funded fire departments splurging on unneeded equipment? Police departments buy military surplus through federal programs that specifically encourage it [1]. It has nothing to do with how well funded they are, which is why you see that equipment show up even in smaller and poorer areas that don't have particularly well-funded police or the need for a Bradley fighting vehicle. [1] https://www.marketplace.org/story/2020/06/12/police-departments-1033-military-equipment-weapons https://www.marketplace.org/story/2020/06/12/police-departme...