Re:The China tea trade was a paradox of global capitalism
by boomboomsubban on Monday May 25, 2020 @10:42PM
(#23306958)
By taking control of supply they were able to lower the sale cost, allowing more people to partake in the addictive substance. Making more people want opium isn't difficult.
Re:The China tea trade was a paradox of global capitalism
by solidsnack9000 on Monday May 25, 2020 @11:30PM
(#23307138)
The arrow of causality runs in the other direction. Lower prices meet unmet demand.
When one supplier takes control of supply, that doesn't generally lead to lower prices; but expanding production -- which the British did -- certainly can.
Having a monopoly on opium doesn't make people want more of it. Smuggling doesn't make more of it, either. What you're describing are both forms of taking control of supply, and don't speak to demand.