Economics and Falling Bridges | 76 comments (76 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: Economics and Falling Bridges (4.00 / 4)

The libertarian response is pretty clear: privatize infrastructure. We had discussed that briefly.

With privatized bridges, you could at least sue someone for a fall, haha...

Where is desire for road freedom?

by das monde on Mon Aug 6th, 2007 at 05:01:12 AM EST

Re: Economics and Falling Bridges (4.00 / 2)

well if you're going to privatise infrastructure, you have to avoid something like This

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Mon Aug 6th, 2007 at 06:24:21 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Economics and Falling Bridges (4.00 / 2)

Indeed. That looks like a serious case of parasitic monopoly pricing. Do the libertarians have a good regulatory policy in mind for privatised monopolies?

Alternatively, do they have a good proposal for slicing up property rights in a clever way that would avoid the problem? There would be a quite a few special, concrete cases (bridges, electric grids...). Tricky.

Words and ideas I offer here may be used freely and without attribution.

by technopolitical on Mon Aug 6th, 2007 at 02:33:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Economics and Falling Bridges (4.00 / 2)

Libertarians don't.

But I've been working on just that for the last five years and I reckon I've cracked it.

Only a partnership-based model works IMHO

"The future is already here -- it's just not very evenly distributed" William Gibson

by ChrisCook (cojockathotmaildotcom) on Mon Aug 6th, 2007 at 03:14:47 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Privatization is just stealing (4.00 / 3)

The Welsh figured it out.

Wish Americans could.

Do the Libertarians have a plan for avoiding extortionist monopoly pricing!?

You dream!! The lessons of the 19th century are far too complex for these techno-whizzes!

The Fates are kind.

by Gaianne on Mon Aug 6th, 2007 at 04:07:52 PM EST
[ Parent ]