On: Price fixing by algorithm is still price fixing

[csa]

I would like to see that this action will lead to meaningful change in (imho) an unhealthy rental market.

Unfortunately, I think the genie is out of the bottle, and the actions by the ftc will be reduced to whack-a-mole attempts to bust transgressors who make the effort to have plausible deniability while still using price-fixing algos.

[nurtbo → csa]

Adding to that: once you’ve shown that keeping rates high while allowing greater vacancies works, no one is going to lower rates afterwards. So we are stuck with this higher rent environment.

[indecisive_user → nurtbo]

It's only profitable because of price fixing. You don't have to worry about vacancies when all your competition has agreed not to undercut you.

Without the price fixing though, apartment complexes will actually have to compete against each other on rent.

[ClumsyPilot → nurtbo]

What do you mean? Of course price-fixing and market manipulation works, that’s why criminals do it!

There is no limit to Price fixing for inelastic good like food, housing and medicine.

[nurtbo → ClumsyPilot]

Totally agreed. I’m unclear whether eliminating this (or even all) mechanism for price fixing on rent will cause prices to drop.