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by pgeorgi 3146 days ago
> subsidies, […] regulatory exceptions

Amazon just had a big contest on subsidies and the only exceptional thing about it was how brazen they were about it. Regulatory exceptions often are part of such deals.

> taxes (paid whether you use the service or not)

Monopolists call that "bundling". For example co-financing internet service by requiring you also pay for phone service.

The main difference is that a public service doesn't need to have profit maximizing as its primary goal.

1 comments

Monopolists call that "bundling". For example co-financing internet service by requiring you also pay for phone service.

No. Bundling means the product I want becomes more expensive, and therefore less competitive. Taxes means I have to pay for the product in any case, removing any competitive pressure.

The main difference is that a public service doesn't need to have profit maximizing as its primary goal.

Neither does a company, that's a myth. Plus, non-profits and coops exist.