The Independent Market Observer

Is Use-Based Pricing a Bad Thing?

Posted by Brad McMillan, CFA®, CFP®

Find me on:

This entry was posted on Mar 5, 2015 2:31:00 PM

and tagged Commentary

Leave a comment

use-based pricingTo finish up the discussion of the economic context of net neutrality that I started in Monday’s post, let’s take a look at the second half of the issue. Monopoly power, which I discussed in yesterday’s post, is a problem—but maybe a short-lived one. If you take away the monopoly part of it, is charging more for some users really all that bad? Not really.

The effect of limited resources

The interesting thing about use-based pricing is that, absent monopoly power, it usually comes to pass only when resources are scarce. Let’s take another look at the wired phone system for some examples.

Back in the day, there was genuinely limited capacity on the phone lines. With fewer circuits, able to handle only one call at a time, it made sense to charge by the minute and to charge more for calls that went farther and tied up more circuits. Yes, kids, long-distance charges were a real thing! Anyone calling was using limited resources, and there was general acceptance (or at least resignation) that you paid for what you used.

In came technology

This changed when the technology did. When wireless came in, computerized switches and many more channels made access less scarce—and use-based pricing less defensible. When AT&T was a monopoly, it held the line on pricing. But when it was split up, one of the successor companies, Sprint, broke the price model by eliminating long-distance charges. Since then, we have also seen the caps on minutes disappear. With no scarcity of the resource, use-based pricing was eliminated by competitive pressures.

This works the other way as well. Consider the costs to drive in downtown London now. Before, just like here in the U.S., anyone could drive downtown whenever they wanted, and traffic was terrible! Demand (drivers) outstripped supply (roads). To solve the problem, the U.K. started charging cars when they drove into London at peak periods. With higher prices, demand (which is to say, traffic) went down. By using technology, a scarce resource was allocated to those who were willing to pay for it.

Technology to the rescue?

With net neutrality, the trend is clearly on the side of technology increasing supply. Absent monopoly power, we would expect—economically—to move away from a use-based pricing model as supply increases. But despite the relative scarcity of bandwidth here in the U.S. compared with that of other countries, we have never really had a use-based pricing model. The attempt by the cable companies to impose such pricing is pushing back against the underlying economic forces—and the cable companies know this.

By trying to move to use-based pricing, cable companies are attempting to monetize scarcity while they still can, which will not be for long. In fact, I suspect this attempt will accelerate the shift away from cable companies and to alternative providers. In this case, from a consumer viewpoint, technology is coming to the rescue. Of course, that’s provided monopoly power does not stop it. This will be the real issue to watch in the net neutrality debate.

                        Subscribe to the Independent Market Observer            

Subscribe via Email

Crash-Test Investing

Hot Topics



New Call-to-action

Conversations

Archives

see all

Subscribe


Disclosure

The information on this website is intended for informational/educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice, a solicitation, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security or investment product. Please contact your financial professional for more information specific to your situation.

Certain sections of this commentary contain forward-looking statements that are based on our reasonable expectations, estimates, projections, and assumptions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks and uncertainties, which are difficult to predict. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Diversification does not assure a profit or protect against loss in declining markets.

The S&P 500 Index is a broad-based measurement of changes in stock market conditions based on the average performance of 500 widely held common stocks. All indices are unmanaged and investors cannot invest directly in an index.

The MSCI EAFE (Europe, Australia, Far East) Index is a free float‐adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed markets, excluding the U.S. and Canada. The MSCI EAFE Index consists of 21 developed market country indices.

One basis point (bp) is equal to 1/100th of 1 percent, or 0.01 percent.

The VIX (CBOE Volatility Index) measures the market’s expectation of 30-day volatility across a wide range of S&P 500 options.

The forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio divides the current share price of the index by its estimated future earnings.

Third-party links are provided to you as a courtesy. We make no representation as to the completeness or accuracy of information provided on these websites. Information on such sites, including third-party links contained within, should not be construed as an endorsement or adoption by Commonwealth of any kind. You should consult with a financial advisor regarding your specific situation.

Member FINRASIPC

Please review our Terms of Use

Commonwealth Financial Network®