Price is one way to allocate scarce resources. History suggests it is the least worst.
But why, morally, should someone who had the free time to sit in a queue, or was lucky enough to win a lottery, be more entitled versus someone willing to pay 10x what someone else is? Scalpers facilitate this. I don't have time to try to get face value tickets. But I work hard in a good job and I have disposable income. So I can, effectively, pay a scalper to do this for me. Am I less deserving of a ticket?
The reality is that the vast majority of secondary market supply comes from artist/venue/promoter related parties. Taylor Swift cannot price tickets at $5,000 because it would be a PR nightmare. So she sells a small amount publicly, which are snapped up by scalpers who know the true price is much higher. And TS quietly sells a ton more at these true prices while saving face.
Price is one way to allocate scarce resources. History suggests it is the least worst.
But why, morally, should someone who had the free time to sit in a queue, or was lucky enough to win a lottery, be more entitled versus someone willing to pay 10x what someone else is? Scalpers facilitate this. I don't have time to try to get face value tickets. But I work hard in a good job and I have disposable income. So I can, effectively, pay a scalper to do this for me. Am I less deserving of a ticket?
The reality is that the vast majority of secondary market supply comes from artist/venue/promoter related parties. Taylor Swift cannot price tickets at $5,000 because it would be a PR nightmare. So she sells a small amount publicly, which are snapped up by scalpers who know the true price is much higher. And TS quietly sells a ton more at these true prices while saving face.