Earlier quoted context omitted.
The trouble with this argument (which gets made a lot) is that this is basically every large retailer. Walmart has great value, Safeway has safeway select, Target has good and gather. In all of these cases large retailers take well-performing products (i.e. look at their sales data to see what is selling well) and creates mimics. They put the generics right next to the original products, and then charge the original…
> The trouble with this argument (which gets made a lot) is that this is basically every large retailer. Alternatively: there's no trouble at all, Walmart/Safeway/etc are all clearly engaging in this anti-competitive practice and must be reigned in. Marketplaces need to be regulated as neutral grounds for sellers, the marketplace cannot double-dip and compete against sellers or engage in practices that reduce competi…
Too many economic opinions are still predicated on the idea that the free market is still working correctly, and that there are effective controls in place. The reality is that - at least in the US - the controls are broken, and have been for a decade or more.