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A comment on Ahead of IPO, Airbnb achieves profitability for second year in a row. Parent comment

Re:Ahead of IPO, Airbnb achieves profitability for second ye... by briandear on Wednesday January 16, 2019 @02:05AM (#18918846)
They aren’t “extracting wealth” from communities any more than Booking.com does. In fact, AirBnB creates wealth. A person renting out a room on AirBnB is economically better off than if they didn’t.
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Re:Ahead of IPO, Airbnb achieves profitability for second ye... by notacoward on Wednesday January 16, 2019 @12:52PM (#18923059)
> In fact, AirBnB creates wealth

Building something creates wealth. Changing the channel through which payment occurs doesn't create wealth. The host's revenue comes from displacing hotels; the guest's savings come from increased rent for other tenants. If you consider the negative externalities imposed on neighbors, there'd be a stronger argument that AirBnB destroys wealth.

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Re:Ahead of IPO, Airbnb achieves profitability for second ye... by matchbok on Wednesday January 16, 2019 @11:17AM (#18922078)
Incorrect. They are removing apartments from the supply, thus raising rents. A couple airbnbs in a huge apartment building have many external costs that are carried by the other tenants.
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