Self-regulation

I can bet any article on the film censorship board in India will promise that the only way out of this mess called CBFC is if films were self-regulated - i.e movie-makers got together themselves to decide on the film ratings. I have my doubts on whether it would work in Bollywood.

 

But where I do believe self-regulation would work is in fixing autorickshaw rates in Chennai. Almost anyone who has been on an auto in Chennai cribs about how they are fleeced. But auto-drivers on the other hand claim they are helpless as the rates were last modified a few years ago, and fuel prices have rocketed up in the meantime. Well, what if the autodrivers were to fix prices themselves? Give them the autonomy of setting a rate card, but also simultaneously institute mechanisms by which it is ensured that drivers do not bargain for more. One would think that the autodrivers wouldnt set rates so high as to frighten away consumers. Also, autodrivers significantly lose bargaining power while negotiating with consumers as the rates were something they have agreed to, and not something forced upon them.

 

I believe this model does better in simulating the supply-demand mechanism while avoiding exploitation of individual consumers.