Re: The Circus of Dr. Lao

In rec.arts.books a reader <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

> I've read that book. I thought the authors (there were two,
> weren't there?) gave a good explanation for why the big
> three tenors get paid a hundred times more than other
> less famous opera singers who are almost as good, or why 
> the top Hollywood actors are paid such outlandish amounts 
> for performances which don't seem to merit it. But what 
> the authors call "winner-take-all-markets" are really 
> just about everywhere. Those are just some of the most 
> visible examples.

The strength of the book was in the many colorful examples
they gave. They write in an academic style - thesis, examples, conclusion,
repeat - which was a little jarring coming from reading prose. Plenty
of food for thought ... for example ...

- It's probably in society and Mark McGuire's best interest for him
  to keep taking steroids, so we can enjoy his dingers. Maybe in each
  sport one player should get a drug exemption?

- taxing higher incomes discourages risk taking, but it also discourages
  poor performers from entering a competition. We all tend to over-estimate
  our abilities and chances of winning.

- competitions that are good for an individual participant, but wasteful 
  for a society as a whole:

     SAT prep courses
     duelling
     advertising
     college football
     CEO salaries

One thing I was wondering is why American films dominate the world market.
Economies of scale? Early adoption? I would think because you can make
and copy a movie anywhere, that the UK or Germany would have more of a share. 
Maybe an EU Hollywood should be set up in Italy?