Old poll
Does free trade lead to:
# Monopolies and therefore less choice 19%
# Much greater choice 75%
# Other variant 6%
16 votes total
Comments
Posted by Dave Petterson on May 15, 2007 at 5:24 pm.
But in a truly free trade environment the monopolies would also be competing across frontiers. Walmart would be up against
The true beauty of it is these things go in cycles. Traders sell goods. Price settles and either the price comes down or new models are created at the same price.
If a trader does gain the market it's because of a low price and it's competitors move into something else or change the market by making it new again by changing the component.
If the price goes up because someone has cornered the market then there is now a space in the market for someone to give a lower price for the same item.
The only real monopolies now are infrastructure. All others are artificially created by government rule.
Posted by James on May 15, 2007 at 2:13 pm.
Monopolies seem to be the sticking point in this thing.
Should we leave the EU?
# Yes
# No
Succinct.
ReplyDeleteI thought that was the idea. Voting.
ReplyDeleteIf you want the long answer, I think it to high a price to pay as a share of our GNP per annum, I think it actuaaly stands against us in terms of global trade, because the Eu is essentially protectionist in its external trade policy and over half our trade is outside the EU. It's different for the other members.
Plus British culture is just to Un-European. All of Europe is a Roman Law culture. We are a common law island that flits from he histories of one continent to another. We are an outward looking nation that likes to meet with even its furthest neighbours, whilst Europe only wants to talk to itself.
There. That was slightly less succint, I guess. But's that's my reason.
Hi James, Looks like you'd gone missing for a while. Glad you're back. In answer to your question what will be the result of free markets: how can we know?! Nobody's ever trusted markets enough to let them be truly free. The last free market was probably the barter of shells for bones.
ReplyDeleteCheerio,
Cassandra.
Well, I knew I'd be in the minority on the new one!
ReplyDeleteIs there some vote on GB's future in the EU today, James? Is that why you put that post up beneath this one that read, "Tomorrow Cometh [Thank goodness]"?
ReplyDeleteNot GB - just the EU.
ReplyDelete