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>The customers will end up asking for more regulation in a few years Consumers hardly ever ask for regulation.

by josu 12y ago

napoleoncomplex 12y ago
I was thinking of taxi legislation as the example (EU city example, can't speak for the US). Taxis in my city need to be registered and the drivers need to have a taxi license, the cars need to have prices clearly listed on their window, as well as the driver's ID visible in the car. All of this is due to consumers getting repeatedly ripped off, complaining about it to the city's politicians, which then wrote up the regulations. The consumers are much better protected now, and have a clear channel for complaints. To me that is clearly a consequence of consumers wanting more regulation. Same as with perishable products having to be clearly marked with its due date in stores, and practically every consumer protection law/regulation out there. Not saying that these laws can't be abused, but that doesn't mean the consumers aren't the main reason behind their existence.
dalke 12y ago
Really? My view is the other way around. Customers ask for more regulation and businesses are against it. Some of the consumer requested laws include national laws like the Pure Food and Drug Act and Clean Water Act, state laws like various lemon laws, and local laws like rent control.
- pdonis 12y ago
  > businesses are against it I think some businesses are against it (they tend to be the smaller ones), but other businesses (these tend to be the larger ones) like it because, while it imposes a burden on them, it imposes more burden on their competitors. Also, businesses can often get into a position where they basically write the regulations that they will have to abide by (i.e., regulatory capture). In that situation, regulation can be an asset for a business.
  - dalke 12y ago
    I speak of course in broad generalities, and not to each and every company or consumer. To start, all members of a business are also consumers, so there is no clear cut distinction between the two, and some consumers are philosophically against all regulations even without being in control of a business.
jellicle 12y ago
You're right, the government just steps in and regulates because, uh, it hates business? {rolls eyes}

>The customers will end up asking for more regulation in a few years Consumers hardly ever ask for regulation.

by josu 12y ago

>The customers will end up asking for more regulation in a few years Consumers hardly ever ask for regulation.

I was thinking of taxi legislation as the example (EU city example, can't speak for the US). Taxis in my city need to be registered and the drivers need to have a taxi license, the cars need to have prices clearly listed on their window, as well as the driver's ID visible in the car. All of this is due to consumers getting repeatedly ripped off, complaining about it to the city's politicians, which then wrote up the regulations. The consumers are much better protected now, and have a clear channel for complaints. To me that is clearly a consequence of consumers wanting more regulation. Same as with perishable products having to be clearly marked with its due date in stores, and practically every consumer protection law/regulation out there. Not saying that these laws can't be abused, but that doesn't mean the consumers aren't the main reason behind their existence.

dalke 12y ago

Really? My view is the other way around. Customers ask for more regulation and businesses are against it. Some of the consumer requested laws include national laws like the Pure Food and Drug Act and Clean Water Act, state laws like various lemon laws, and local laws like rent control.

pdonis 12y ago
> businesses are against it I think some businesses are against it (they tend to be the smaller ones), but other businesses (these tend to be the larger ones) like it because, while it imposes a burden on them, it imposes more burden on their competitors. Also, businesses can often get into a position where they basically write the regulations that they will have to abide by (i.e., regulatory capture). In that situation, regulation can be an asset for a business.
- dalke 12y ago
  I speak of course in broad generalities, and not to each and every company or consumer. To start, all members of a business are also consumers, so there is no clear cut distinction between the two, and some consumers are philosophically against all regulations even without being in control of a business.

jellicle 12y ago

You're right, the government just steps in and regulates because, uh, it hates business? {rolls eyes}