Commerce in Interrupted Commerce

It seems the China-60 mile-traffic jam could last weeks. Which isn't good news for many. Especially for the truck drivers waiting to deliver their goods at its destination. From a business perspective its also an interruption to the flow of commerce.

Yet what's heartening within this 'stuck' scene is that the wheels of commerce still keep rolling. The act of selling and buying continues. As truckers wait, villagers at the scene along Highway 110 take advantage of the jam, selling drivers packets of instant noodles from roadside stands and, when traffic is at a standstill, move between trucks and cars to hawk their wares.

Now that's the spirit of Enterprise. Of Business. Always in wait for an opportunity to buy or sell.

Wow! Hats off!

Comments

sheriffshooter said…
Food and water being sold at ten times the cost. That's the reality.
Ray Titus said…
SS,

Mental Map at play? Step aside and instead see supply-demand dynamics at play.

When there's demand, not much supply, prices 'spike'.
sheriffshooter said…
Easy for an economist to say. I was in Mumbai at the time vada paos sold for 85 bucks and above. It was July 26th, 2005. The torrent left people stranded from their homes for days. Their only source of food and water were the businessmen on the street. I call that swindling.
Ray Titus said…
Of course, if there's a price set, for the consumer it could always be lower.

And if it isn't, then its 'swindling'!

Wanna stop the swindle? Increase supply. Prices will come down. Sure, during a downpour that turns into a deluge, that can't be possible.


What can I say, life ain't fair! Also remember, it isn't always vada-pavs. At times it potatoes, at others, tomatoes. Like I said, keep the supply lines running, life will seem fair. :)
sheriffshooter said…
Goodness, professori.
The supply lines are controlled by the ones who control the prices.
Look at oil. Look at precious stones. Look at rare metals.
Winter Rain said…
You don't get it shooter, whenever somebody controls something prices can be manipulated, mostly upwards. That's why markets need to be controlled by competition to keep prices fair. Plus if somebody is willing to pay exorbitant prices for something, its called choice. If somebody wants to pay 85 bucks for a vada pav, its his choice. True it doesn't seem fair, but for who?. The vada pav man collects the 85 bucks and spends it on something else which brings much needed income for some other seller. The only way to fix that is to allow competition. Competition increases supply of scarce goods which in turn allows prices to be dictated by what consumers are willing to pay and suppliers willing to take. That is the fair market value.
Ray Titus said…
SS,

Let me guess...

You believe the Globe's warming, America the capitalist gnome is gunning after all the oil because its part of their creepy desire for world domination...James Cameron's a hero not a dimwit...Obama's the saviour...Venezuela and Cuba are other names for heaven...

Oh and yeah, the capitalists of course have to be the ones holding the supply lines, making us all suffer...

I forgot...the oil and the precious metals...my advice? Stop buying and see where prices go...that way you can stick it to the capitalists...

Get the drift...?

WinterRain,

Couldn't have explained it better...
sheriffshooter said…
Absolute astounding bullshit that can only come from a front bencher.
The people affected by the deluge weren't given a menu to choose from. The chinese truckers had no choice but to pay ten times the price for a bottle of water. These weren't luxuries, but necessities. If you guys have better opinions, raise them up in your classrooms and have the kids pat you on the back.
I was happy reading this blog until I now realize it's just chalk for the blackboard.
Winter Rain said…
SS,Your choice buddy, stop whining.
sheriffshooter said…
Are these the kind of brains passing out of institutions these days? Brain drain should be right up your alley. In fact here's an incentive from the Indian government, to take your ideology elsewhere.
$$$
Its always easy to blabb.... Being a Professor, obvious from you to comeout.....

Wel, Prices controlled by capitalists at times of favor and by consumers at times of competition....

But it happens wen choices are at hand as SS rightly said...

Here the ball was in the enterprenure's court so nobody can mock the people naming it as luxury!

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