Douglas_Knight comments on Open Thread, Feb 8 - Feb 15, 2016 - Less Wrong

4 Post author: Elo 08 February 2016 04:47AM

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Comment author: Douglas_Knight 11 February 2016 02:31:19AM *  2 points [-]

The existing tobacco companies are real assets that require compensation if they are nationalized, while the right to create new companies does not require compensation if it is destroyed.

You might also ask why people don't create new American tobacco companies to acquire the advertising rights that existing companies gave up in Master Settlement.

Comment author: Dagon 11 February 2016 03:42:11AM 0 points [-]

A lot depends on what the "real assets" are. They have no property right in future revenue if customers choose to buy somewhere or something else. They may have contractual rights to a monopoly, which could be purchased (but which is pretty suspect to start with). They do likely have property rights in plant (heh) and equipment, which will be a natural barrier to competitive entry.