A simple question to start a discourse.
I do not believe in natural monopolies since they wouldn't exist in a free market. They only exist when the government regulates in favor of established businesses, which bars entry into the marketplace from newer competitors.
Where did you get your premise that monopolies don't exist in free markets.
And the second.. that the govt creates them.
These are Both False premises.
The govt Routinely Blocks anti-competitive mergers and Prevents Natural monopolies.
It's only the existence of federal anti-trust laws that prevents the airlines, railroads, etc etc, etc, etc, from becoming large natural monopolies.
They would be far more efficient and have more pricing power as one entity but know they can't pull it off due TO the govt.
Google would easily eat it's remaining competition Yahoo if allowed, and even without doing so, Has a virtual monopoly. But they wouldn't even try because of existing anti-trust laws. And only because of them.
This applies in Many industries.
It Was the Federal govt who broke up Standard Oil into most of todays major oil companies.
It was the Federal govt who broke up AT&T into 7 companies 25 years ago to promote competition... FROM it's Natural monopoly state.
But now we're back down to 3 of the 7 due to natural efficiencies of scale and the more successful Naturally eating the less successful.
So the true 'natural state' is kept in check by the govt NOT promoted by it.
Many companies would love to eat each other but know they are not allowed.