External Opportunities

Abstract

AbstractThis is the first of two chapters exploring the fundamental ‘drivers’ underlying the specific mechanisms of structural injustice already elaborated. Its focus is upon ‘scale effects’ and the way in which the opportunities they afford give rise to many of the mechanisms for perpetuating advantaged previously discussed. Scale effects arise at various points. One is in production: the stuff of monopolies and mergers. A second is in consumption: with some goods, the more you consume, the more you have to consume (practising the piano is arguably like that, as is trusting one another). A third sort of scale effect arises in connection with valuation: network externalities are like that (the bigger the network, the more valuable it is to be part of it) but there are various other cases where ‘bigger is better’ (e.g., it is better to open an account in a bank with more customers). Scale effects of any of those sorts perpetuate advantage. Insofar as bigger is better and better attracts more people, the bigger thing gets still bigger—and better for those already advantaged in being part of something that big.