[krapp]

No one is operating in a free market. Free markets don't exist in the real world - all markets have externalities and influences other than those created by the markets themselves, if only due to those markets existing within states under frameworks of law and regulation. Arguments from simple supply and demand never describe reality accurately enough to be useful.

[gruez]

That doesn't answer the point raised by the parent comment. If I need programmers, and I'm only willing to pay minimum wage, then only one or two show up, is there a programmer shortage? There's plenty of programmers available, just not at minimum wage. The same applies to the school district example. The shortage is because they're not willing to raise wages.