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What? TVs and computers are, for most people, not even substitute goods.
by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Thu Dec 4th, 2008 at 11:38:59 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Right. So if you can afford a TV, why can't you afford the Internet?
by asdf on Thu Dec 4th, 2008 at 11:40:14 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Well, first, a TV is a one-off, smaller, expense.
by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Thu Dec 4th, 2008 at 11:43:39 AM EST
[ Parent ]
From where asdf sits, buying a TV means buying cable TV service for a monthly fee, not unlike internet.

The number of people who buy a TV just to watch DVDs is small indeed and broadcast TV if being phased out in favour of cable subscriptions where it still exists, even in Western Europe.

In the UK watching broadcast TV requires a TV licence with periodic payments, too...


Most economists teach a theoretical framework that has been shown to be fundamentally useless. -- James K. Galbraith

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Thu Dec 4th, 2008 at 11:54:04 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Also it's easy to get free Internet access--at least in the urban U.S. Wireless is everywhere, either legit in coffee shops or pirated from your neighbor.
by asdf on Thu Dec 4th, 2008 at 12:00:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Maybe. I bet we are the only family on our not-particularly-prosperous block that does not have either cable or satellite television. And in a few weeks even the little TV we do have will become useless due to the great digital changeover...
by asdf on Thu Dec 4th, 2008 at 11:56:05 AM EST
[ Parent ]

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