Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Pastimes : Austrian Economics, a lens on everyday reality -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Don Lloyd who wrote (81)	12/17/2001 9:57:52 AM
From: Neocon	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 445

You are right, I agree that most monopolies are nominal, there being effective substitutes to meet the need. The examples I used were more for convenience than anything else. It is extremely unlikely that all foodstuffs will be monopolized, except, perhaps, under local and temporary conditions. In general, monopolies are not worth the trouble of remedying them. I also agree that there is such a thing as over- competition, where resources would be more profitably invested elsewhere, but marginal firms won't quit as long as they can limp along. Finally, I agree that profits are fleeting, and that if they are held down, investment is discouraged. I am not sure that I can construct a more realistic scenario for the adverse impact of monopolies, off the top of my head, so maybe I should rest in our agreement, instead of pursuing the marginal disagreement. Thanks for your response, I will consider whether pursuit of the theoretical issue is worthwhile......