Re: Re: Environment minister removes cap on superstores like IKEA

TRANSPORT ‘LOCK-IN’:

Ikea opening near the M50 reminds me of an economists term called “lock-in”. The term would be used to explain the extraordinary success of Microsoft; – the more people that installed the system, the more useful it became. The system operator can then “lock-in” the use of their product by aquiring a critical mass of users before any competition.

In Ireland, road transportation is locked in because of the huge programme of road building, the surge in car ownership and the antiqated and underfunded public transport system. In the face of this, individuals will chose to rely on their cars, housing will be built around the road system and large shops – like Ikea – will be built on by-passes with large car parks. Employment will be sited on the assumption that employees drive their own cars. Powerful lobbies like the Automobile Association will be created.