What I don't understand is why governments don't just flat-out legislate about this. They actually have made steps in some narrow areas (like airline ticket pricing). But not in most areas.
Probably my least favorite is event ticketing, just because it's so shameless. And it isn't even a monopoly anymore. For example, my local concert venue recently advertised tickets to a concert at $35 each. After all the ticket fees and service fees and other mandatory unavoidable charges, two tickets ended up costing $100. The service provided for that extra $30, which was to a third-party ticketing company but not one of the giant ones, was, as far as I can tell, to print off a piece of cardboard and leave it at will call.
Actually, I take it back. The answer is, of course, in Mancur Olson's The Logic of Collective Action---it's much easier for ripoff industries to organize politically than for consumers.
Probably my least favorite is event ticketing, just because it's so shameless. And it isn't even a monopoly anymore. For example, my local concert venue recently advertised tickets to a concert at $35 each. After all the ticket fees and service fees and other mandatory unavoidable charges, two tickets ended up costing $100. The service provided for that extra $30, which was to a third-party ticketing company but not one of the giant ones, was, as far as I can tell, to print off a piece of cardboard and leave it at will call.
It boggles the mind.