Column: Right-to-work legislation benefits state but also matter of justice

How many different restaurants do you patronize? In my household the number is in double digits ranging from fast foods to fine dining.

Now suppose a bare majority of the eateries in your town forces all the others into a dues-imposing restaurant association that fixes prices, hours and terms of service for all of them.

In this example, it is illegal for customers to negotiate with a restaurant without first going through the association. Moreover, all new restaurants must join the association, pay its dues and abide by its rules.

Economists call such an arrangement a cartel. The industry is monopolized by its trade association. Some members and the organizers are better off; customers and those members who do not wish to be subject to the cartel’s control are worse off.

This story appears in the print edition of Daily Journal. Subscribers can read the entire story online by signing in here or in our e-Edition by clicking here.