On Thu, 2008-09-25 at 14:20 +0100, Adrian Stott wrote:
> Suppose I'm a retired visitor from Australia, taking my > once-in-a-lifetime cruise on the UK waterways. I especially want to > visit my aged sister, who lives in Braunston, and I need to be right > in town because my wife walks with two canes. > > I'm going to be really satisfied by finding "Moorings Full - Better > Luck Next Time" sign all along the towpath, aren't I? Especially when > I would have been quite happy to pay a couple of quid to moor close to > the town. But your "pay for" system doesnt guarantee him a mooring any more that the current "first come first served" system. If there are X slots, there could be X people willing to pay "a couple of quid" in front of him. > When the demand for something exceeds supply, the best method of > dealing with the situation *is* usually to put a market-clearing price > on it. > > Contrary to your belief, this isn't an example of arrogant gouging. It > is actually the way to ensure that those with the greatest need get > the supply. It gives everyone a choice, instead of the moorings > always going those who are happy to tie up at 2 p.m. every day (unlike > most hirers, who want to see rather more of the waterway than that > allows. Too bad for them, eh?). No it doesnt "ensure that those with the greatest need get the supply." It ensures that those with the greatest cash gets the supply Steve [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
