Message from @Present Distributist

Discord ID: 640304566633758750


2019-11-02 21:07:24 UTC  

That's a natural monopoly

2019-11-02 21:07:56 UTC  

Because the operating costs of operating another cable company are too high

2019-11-02 21:08:33 UTC  

@Orson Krennic Local cable companies aren’t good. It stifles competition which takes away much of the incentive to provide good deals and better technology.

2019-11-02 21:08:47 UTC  

Natural monoplies aren't necessarily bad

2019-11-02 21:08:56 UTC  

They provide services at a low cost to consumers

2019-11-02 21:09:14 UTC  

What’s keeping them from raising the cost?

2019-11-02 21:10:09 UTC  

It would be competition, but they don’t have any because the startup costs aren’t worth the profit. @Orson Krennic

2019-11-02 21:12:31 UTC  

The only alternative I see is regulation, local or otherwise.

2019-11-02 21:33:33 UTC  

@DrRisen if they did raise costs then it would be economically profitable for a new company to start up

2019-11-02 21:33:50 UTC  

But if they offer good service and keep their prices stable then there's no profitability

2019-11-02 21:39:58 UTC  

@Orson Krennic If a new company starts up its economically feasible for the already established company to temporarily lower their prices far enough that the startup, which will have a smaller customer base and ergo need a higher price line to stay in business, will be forced to sell or go bankrupt, then the monopoly can raise its prices right back up.

2019-11-02 21:40:25 UTC  

Consumer confidence

2019-11-02 21:40:32 UTC  

You're ignoring the opinions of the consumers

2019-11-02 21:40:36 UTC  

Sure they can do that

2019-11-02 21:40:46 UTC  

Monopolies are ecvil

2019-11-02 21:40:48 UTC  

But at that point public opinion would be negative towards the company

2019-11-02 21:41:07 UTC  

And what will that do, make them stop needing phones?

2019-11-02 21:41:23 UTC  

No, they'll be less apt to stay with the company overcharging

2019-11-02 21:41:29 UTC  

Or they'll find a substitute

2019-11-02 21:41:35 UTC  

Which consumers are very good at doing

2019-11-02 21:41:44 UTC  

monopolies will attempt to entrench themselves by using temporary charging reductions

2019-11-02 21:41:52 UTC  

They don’t have an alternative option when there’s no other companies around.

2019-11-02 21:44:25 UTC  

In this scenario the likely outcome would be that another cable service would expand into the area to meet the demand of the consumers

2019-11-02 21:45:22 UTC  

But with startup costs and a smaller initial customer base for the opposing company the monopolized company can simply discount their prices to a point at which the other company cannot keep their doors open in the area. @Orson Krennic

2019-11-02 21:45:52 UTC  

But then operating costs for the first company would be greater because they're not bringing in enough revenue to pay for them

2019-11-02 21:46:21 UTC  

@Orson Krennic Clarified. Meant to refer to the incoming company for startup and operations cost.

2019-11-02 21:47:11 UTC  

If they keep going through a cyclical price system, the consumers would have no incentive to stay with them, so when another company did come into the area the consumers would switch

2019-11-02 21:47:20 UTC  

@DrRisen that's short term

2019-11-02 21:47:29 UTC  

Long term, it would be a good investment for the incoming company

2019-11-02 21:47:39 UTC  

Especially if they're already established

2019-11-02 21:48:25 UTC  

@Orson Krennic Switching takes time, especially if the initial company had an exclusivity clause in place.

2019-11-02 21:48:45 UTC  

Time that the startup doesn’t have.

2019-11-02 21:48:50 UTC  

Companies change prices all the time without losing public support

2019-11-02 21:49:02 UTC  

It’s a stamina game, and the home field team will always have more of it.

2019-11-02 21:49:15 UTC  

Again, it's a long term good investment

2019-11-02 21:49:36 UTC  

Short term, the costs are expensive

2019-11-02 21:49:41 UTC  

Long term, it's a good investment

2019-11-02 21:49:53 UTC  

Especially because of the demand for cheaper prices

2019-11-02 21:50:00 UTC  

If you’re a startup, you can’t afford long term because you have bills and loans to pay *now*.

2019-11-02 21:50:10 UTC  

That's not what I've been saying

2019-11-02 21:50:35 UTC  

I explicitly said what would be probable is for an existing company to move into the area and expand their business