The Market Vindicates Itself!
by Vince?Daliessio
?
Many leftish-inclined people, for whatever good ideas they have about the warfare state, are deeply suspicious of, if not actively hostile to capitalism and markets. Lucky for everyone then that markets appear to be vindicating themselves!
?From a BoingBoing article on a conference on?the global trend of businesses and goods-production?becoming ever-increasingly customer-driven;
?The outsourcing of key business functions ? from textile production to software - to low cost labour countries is one of the key trends of the past five years. The next wave of outsourcing is starting to take place in the heart of the home market: the market itself is taking over all phases of production, from concept development and design to finished product. The phenomenon of ?user-driven innovation? goes beyond do-it-your-selfing, customization, and personalization. It?s no longer a matter of choosing between models ? customers are designing the very models they choose.
This trend not only reflects the value-creating functions of capitalism and markets, but is an ominous sign for governments, which tend to try to restrict and regulate the choices available to consumers. Imagine a world where virtually?all goods are custom goods - not only does that tend to limit monopoly and merchantilist-fascist corporate hegemony, but it will also tend to increasingly squeeze out taxing and regulating authorities.
?