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Old 05-18-2012, 10:35 AM   #104
stonetools
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According to Ninjalawyer, the market is a magic wand that solves all problems and the Internet is a god whose commands must be obeyed. However, there is such a thing as market failure and "THE INTERNET!!" doesn't command anything. People through their governments do the commanding-and should.
The showroom effect is an example of market failure-Amazon is profiting from ther good work of independent booksellers. THere are things that can be done. The French culture minister has one proposal-agency pricing for all books, in effect. Probably a nonstarter in the US.
In the US context, we can start by having Amazon pay sales tax and thus contribute to the tax base of states and localities.
We can also have Amazon adhere to fair labor standards in its sweatshop style warehouses. This will cut into Amazon's famed price advantage, of course.
Don't know if much more can be done, but at least we can do this.
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