Re:U.S. Accuses Google of Illegally Protecting Monopoly
by horsawlarway on Tuesday October 20, 2020 @01:57PM
(#24840439)
Try exiting Google or Amazon. It's borderline impossible.
Basically - how do I exit a company if I'm not the one choosing to use their services?
I cannot use the internet and avoid Google's ads.
I cannot use the internet and avoid Amazon's hosting.
I cannot exit the internet because I literally make my living with it, the competitive disadvantage of doing so is SO great with the way we've structured services and life in general that it doesn't really work.
Re:U.S. Accuses Google of Illegally Protecting Monopoly
by BurningFrog on Tuesday October 20, 2020 @03:23PM
(#24841368)
We probably disagree about how bad that is, but I think it's a valid argument within the voice/exit framework.
Corporations are also accountable to governments, as this story illustrates. If US courts and/or legislators decide they want it, Google ceases to exist.
Economists think of this in terms of "Exit vs Voice".
With governments, you have a voice - one vote for deciding who's in charge - but no way to exit, even when your side loses.
With corporations you can exit - stop shopping at Target - but no voice in how Target is run.
Both models have pros and cons, and it's good to understand how they differ, and what situations they're suited for.