[ILUG] Re: Monopoly

[John McCormac]

Gerard J Keating wrote:
> 
> Ferren MacIntyre wrote:
> >
> 
> > There is no reason why a computer program should cost more than a book.
> >
> 
> OK then, assuming a book costs about IEP20.00, will you write me a small
> database system for 20 quid, please thanks..

Economies of scale: A book is a mass produced item. A database system is
often a one off item. If a book was produced to be a one off or produced
in very small numbers, then it would be very expensive. (It was that way
before scriptoria and eventually moveable type printing.) There also has
to be a demand for the product. 

As for the claim that a computer program should not cost more than a
book - rubbish! In financial terms, any item is worth only what someone
will pay for it. People will cooperate when it is in their best
interests to do so but sooner or later, Human nature will prevail and
the co-op system will tend towards capitalism. Rarely do the people who
are struggling to survive entertain fantasies about co-ops and such.
Co-ops only seem to occur when there is a sufficient amount of revenue
generated by capitalism. 

Regards...jmcc
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