Saturday, October 5, 2013

5 - Transfer Pricing - IlliniBucks

First of all, I want to say such regime like "Illinibucks" does not exist for reasons. I believe this is not a way to achieve equality in our society. It empowers those students from financially strong families to have better access to resources on campus and from the University. And therefore at the same time grants the University extra unethical income. Under the system of Illinibucks, I would say quite a lot of things on campus make good candidates of the Illinibucks. It can be used at entrance of dinning halls, time ticket for registration of courses, entrance of career fairs and so on.

In my imagination, one can use Illinibucks to pass the long line at the dinning hall entrance in lunch "rush hours". And it is very much useful for those students who have limited time to have lunch. It allows those students to arrive on time in their afternoon classes without a empty stomach. Also, when it comes registering for classes, it become such a critically important for students because it really give you the opportunity to have a perfect schedule (no classes on lunch or dinner times or early mornings). What's more, getting in to career fairs can be greatly favorable since recruiters always getting tired really quick after non-stop talking with students.

I personally would spend my Illinibucks according to how much I value those things. For example, registering for classes is important form freshmen year all the way through senior year. Attending for career fairs only become important in junior or senior years. So it really depends on what year am I in.

I personally does not believe that the price of Illinibucks would be a big factor here if one can use several Illinibucks at the same time since one can just buy more Illinibucks to get pass other people. Therefore, it is purely beneficial for people who can actually afford the Illinibucks. And it really draws a line between people, which can cause unstable society and anger.

Also, Illinibucks would be a monopoly, and it invisibly has a price discrimination. So people who value the Illinibucks the most are willing to pay more money to buy more Illinibucks in order to achieve the desired benefits. And people who value the Illinibucks at a lower utility would purchase less Illinibucks.

1 comment:

  1. In your first paragraph it seems you misinterpreted how Illinibucks would be allocated. Every students would get an allocation at the start of each semester. Each student would get the same amount. Enrolling as a student would qualify the person to receive Illinibucks.

    The uses you mention are what most of the other students came up with. My question for you is whether supply might expand, instead, so the scarcity you talk about isn't as sever.

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