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> If we apply this to the physical products, you can equally say that the companies shouldn't charge more than it costs to produce something. But if all companies worked this way, that would take us back to the stone age pretty quickly.

But that's what happens in the physical world in face of competition (and that's the "great promise of capitalism", btw.) - prices fall down to minimal sustainable level unless someone is able to erect some artificial structure that will inflate them (like enough layers of middlemen).

But anyway, I don't mind Coursera or others trying out any business model they want. But them talking about a "mission to ensure access to education to everyone", etc.? This is getting dishonest. I'm criticizing them for saying they're doing this for humanity, while in fact getting further and further away from this goal every day.




> prices fall down to minimal sustainable level unless someone is able to erect some artificial structure

In education, the artificial structure is often exclusivity in admissions. This also works for nightclubs.


"minimum sustainable level" and "absolute marginal cost" are two very different things, particularly in the digital contnt world.




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