[p2p-research] dialogue with parecon, response to Michael Albert

[Michel Bauwens]

On Mon, May 4, 2009 at 9:26 PM, Patrick Anderson <agnucius at gmail.com> wrote:

> > Michael Albert wrote:
> >> But what about a group producing food, say, or violins, or
> >> something else? On two counts it would seem to fail to meet your
> definition.
> >> First, the products wouldn’t be for everyone, clearly. Second, the
> inputs
> >> would be expensive, which implies permissions, acquisitions, etc.  Is
> this
> >> correct?”
>
> Michel Bauwens wrote:
> > Yes, this is correct. Typically, as in the Arduino circuit boards, or
> your
> > hypothetical violin, the violin would be a market product, exchanged for
> > money, but the design would be available to all, so any other company
> would
> > also be free to produce it. One of the side effects of this is to destroy
> > monopoly rent on artificial scarcity.
>
> Michel,
>
> Are you saying Open Design is enough to "destroy monopoly rent on
> artificial scarcity" in every respect?



You are right Patrick, to stress, not in every respect, but the groundrule
that if others can make the same, it's harder to get mark-ups, will play
out.

Amongst other things, there are network effects to consider.

For example, though Arduino boards can be made by others, such as Chinese
companies, they seem to lack the intricate experience of those that
developed them, and therefore, seem to produce lesser quality versions,
prompting their customers to demand the originals with the 'made in italy'
stamp on it ...

Michel

For example,
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