Economics Questions

Re: Regime uncertainty disincentivizes private provision of public goods

SkepticalMetal — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 04:05:11 GMT

Oh fuck.

Re: Regime uncertainty disincentivizes private provision of public goods

Neodoxy — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 04:03:09 GMT

If you're asking me if I didn't know whatever you just wrote that I didn't read after the first few words, then no, I probably didn't. I'd watch yourself, so as not to end up like certain characters in the show...

Re: Regime uncertainty disincentivizes private provision of public goods

SkepticalMetal — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 03:54:52 GMT

Oh, so you didn't know that Walter shot Mike in the arm, then Mike drove away, then he it a tree or something, then he crawled out of the car and went down to a river with Walter following, and then Walt said something about how he didn't know something and then Mike said "shut the fuck up Walter and let me die in peace?"

You didn't know that?

Re: Regime uncertainty disincentivizes private provision of public goods

Neodoxy — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 03:51:24 GMT

"Mike got owned by Walter. Shot through the open window of a car...then a crash...then a nice walk down to the water..."

................................................ And guess what little punk libertarian just important spoiled plot information revolving one of my favorite characters?

Also, do not insult Mike. He's the biggest badass on the show and isn't an ass like what Walter turns into in season 5.

The owl may come back in future, I'm open for requests

... Or maybe I'll combine the two...

Re: Regime uncertainty disincentivizes private provision of public goods

SkepticalMetal — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 03:42:31 GMT

But you can't beat Gus, man.

Well, maybe an old guy in a wheelchair with a bell can.

Re: Regime uncertainty disincentivizes private provision of public goods

gotlucky — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 03:41:36 GMT

I really liked the owl...

Re: Regime uncertainty disincentivizes private provision of public goods

SkepticalMetal — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 03:39:09 GMT

Mike got owned by Walter. Shot through the open window of a car...then a crash...then a nice walk down to the water...

You know, that show caused a lot of controversy in the libertarian community when you saw "Ron Paul 2008" in Gale's notes.

Re: Regime uncertainty disincentivizes private provision of public goods

Neodoxy — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 03:33:40 GMT

Yea I decided my avatar needed a change and I thought that maybe a character from one of my favorite shows that isn't anime might be appropriate. I wanted to make it Mike since he's my favorite character, but he's not very photogenic.

Re: Regime uncertainty disincentivizes private provision of public goods

SkepticalMetal — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 03:22:17 GMT

@ Neodoxy

Holy crap! Breaking Bad!

Re: Regime uncertainty disincentivizes private provision of public goods

Neodoxy — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 21:50:50 GMT

Relevant to the discussion

Re: Regime uncertainty disincentivizes private provision of public goods

gotlucky — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 19:12:36 GMT

So things would just have to be really bad before someone starts to take action. I remember that story you posted about the Indian who built that road through a mountain.

Re: Regime uncertainty disincentivizes private provision of public goods

Wheylous — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 19:05:15 GMT

Why don't citizens just fill in the pot holes themselves? Why don't they hire others to do so?

Free rider problem. They could do it themselves and pay the full cost, but if they wait for the government, the cost is distributed. Also, if one neighborhood does it and the other waits and the government does it for them, then the first sees it and thinks that next time they aren't as sure that they would want to do it because there is a chance that the government will do it for them.

Re: Regime uncertainty disincentivizes private provision of public goods

gotlucky — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 18:40:58 GMT

So I guess there are some interesting questions about roads: Why don't citizens just fill in the pot holes themselves? Why don't they hire others to do so? Are there laws preventing this from happening? The only exceptions are the private roads, but those are not common, even in affluent suburban towns; there might be a dozen in a town of 30,000.

Taxes go to the USPS even if you don't use it, just as taxes go to roads if you don't use them. So what's stopping private companies from competing with the state? Is it laws or is it that road maintainance is costs more? Might be worth looking into that, and it may vary from state to state.

Re: Regime uncertainty disincentivizes private provision of public goods

Wheylous — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 18:34:40 GMT

gotlucky - I was thinking of including the USPS in my original post as a service that is just so bad that the private market can compete, but thought that for clarity and brevity I could leave it as is :P

Re: Regime uncertainty disincentivizes private provision of public goods

gotlucky — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 18:28:46 GMT

@Wheylous

It might be interesting to also examine the USPS. Mail is a guaranteed service, but the USPS is so bad that FedEx, UPS, and DHL can easily compete with it. Also, there are some private roads, but they are few and far between. They might be more common in really wealthy areas, but I don't know for sure.