Thread

1. bbor · 1790706875 · focus · HN ↗

   A yes, capitalism; a system that works perfectly as long as communication and data processing technology is innefficent enough to put a natural efficiency limit on all firms. Reminds me of the scandal around rental price "collusion", which ultimately was kinda just really effective software for doing stuff that would normally be fine.

   *ETA:* And FWIW, the author here goes about as far towards that as they can -- a shoutout at the end! Anything else would be decried as biased, after all. Great article; shame it'll soon be downranked by the wonderful machines running this place :(

   1. bix6 · 1790706940 · focus · HN ↗

      You mean like withholding units from the market to overcharge renters when there’s people sleeping on the streets? Totally fine.

      1. bbor · 1790707302 · focus · HN ↗

         That feels like a worthy critique but I'm not sure it relates? That's just how capitalism prioritizes capital over anything else, which is the core problem of course but isn't super related to the problems of increasing information. In fact, wouldn't this technique get harder to pull off as renters have access to better and better tools themselves?

         1. RangerScience · 1790707906 · focus · HN ↗

            I wouldn’t expect it to; better information, without power to act on it, doesn’t do much.

            That said, this’d be one of those things where you can say “this is my prediction”, and if it doesn’t come true, go looking for the forces and factors you missed from your initial prediction.

         2. hn_acc1 · 1790712231 · focus · HN ↗

            What kind of tools would help renters? This "just one penny less than they will bear" is part of the problem of modern society. There used to be SOME areas you could "win" a little. Pay a reasonable price for rent, not exactly 33.3333% of your income. Pay a reasonable price for a car, not 25.0% of your income, etc. Save a few percent here, a few percent there, and you could eventually get a downpayment on a house, or indulge in a hobby.

            The endgame for these ghouls is to have you work 996+ and spend 99.9999999...% of your income on just the bare essentials so that there's not one penny left unmonetized for you to just exist, and nothing left for any type of enjoyment.

            1. SoftTalker · 1790713083 · focus · HN ↗

               Maybe different but where I live you can certainly shop the rental market and pay less if you'll accept an older building, without modern updates. You'll have a Formica countertop not a granite one. You'll have basic appliances not stainless steel. You'll have carpet and not hardwood laminate floors. You won't have a pool or exercise room or party room. Your address won't impress anyone. But you'll pay hundreds less per month in rent.

               1. hn_acc1 · 1790799988 · focus · HN ↗

                  I've only ever rented a room back in my college/intern days, so I have no context exactly, but from coworkers here in the valley, even the rent on those types of apartments keeps going up ridiculous amounts so that they keep moving..

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