I live in Southern California where there are is regulation of store hours. While there are a few 24 hour super markets most big stores close at 9 PM Monday to Saturday and at 7PM on Sunday. There are still many small businesses that only open Monday to Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM. However, the freedom of hours has generated thousands of parttime jobs ideal for students and other people who need a second job to get by. And I do like to shop on Sunday afternoon as I am too busy on Saturday.

I lived in Canada when they deregulated store hours and the arguement was two fold. Separation of church and state.

Freedom to do what you want as long as it was not fraudulent or proven harmful to society.

Either shop owners in the U.S. do not follow the teachings of “Economics 101″ or “Economics 101″ is wrong. In the latter case, your ideas about libertarianism also fall down, since the whole idea of market (libertarian) economics being effective is based on the ideas taught in “Economics 101″.

Why would shop owners, rational as they are (that’s according to Economics 101) keep their shops open if it isn’t worthwhile? Can you, as you are so extremely knowledgeable tell me why it would be sensible to keep a shop open – if labor costs are larger than profits?

Lets make this simple. Let’s assume that shops have previously been allowed to be open from 8 to 16. Now we set it free. So everybody is open 24 hrs? If that would be the case, then what would be the win for the shopkeepers. If sales would rise 300% o.k., but what if not? I’m sure sales wouldn’t rise by 300%. If they rise at all, that’s interesting. Now think about this in terms of costs to the shopkeeper (remember according to Economics 101 – which you seem to be a master of – the shopkeepers own effort is a cost too). At least three times in salary (if you assume that shops are run by the same arsenal of personnel at all hours). If the shop doesnot selll more goods, bankrupcy is imminent. What are the choices? Stay open only at hours which are interesting to customers, cut wages, or raise prices. This is Economics 101, but you have still not got it.

Are you stupid? Or why is this simple thing a problem to you?

Well there are much more liberal opening laws in the U.S. – and this hasn’t happened? I wonder why not? If you can’t figure it out, you might want to take Economics 101 over again.

At the HIGHEST point only 1% is in the shop? What are you trying to say? Is this libertarian logic at its peak yet another time? What do these WISDOM WORDS of yours actually say about the fact that IF shops were open freely, THEN they would ALL be open at the same times (to maxize profit). These would not be the times a consumer with preferences differing from the norm would like. Is this too hard to understand for a libertarially oriented person, or?

I shouldn’t say “once a week”, I mean “on a regular interval, without getting a few spur-of-the-moment things inbetween”

If the ???SHOPS THEMSELVES should decide?? that would probably mean that if you wanted service on some other time than the majoritys preferred time,

No way. The majority has no preferred time, the public spread themselves out over the 60+ hours a week the store is open. At it’s highest point, I’m sure only 1% of a store’s shoppers are actually in the store.

No. Like any other sane person I THINK they do it at any time they please. I’ve never claimed anything to the opposite. Where do you get this “once a week” idea from?

“Good question. They???re open for a few months a year on Sundays now, I???m sure we could find that data.”

Go get it? But keep in mind that it should cover the full year, and all kind of commodities.

“Not at all!! I think the SHOPS THEMSELVES should decide how they operate.”

If the “SHOPS THEMSELVES should decide” that would probably mean that if you wanted service on some other time than the majoritys preferred time, you would have to go to some special shop far away from where you live. Not much different from Phil’s original complaint, right?

You think? So the majority of people only do their grocery shopping once a week?

How much do you think markets would expand by having shops open on sundays?

Good question. They’re open for a few months a year on Sundays now, I’m sure we could find that data.

In any case, I think you should know that shops wouldn???t operate based on what Phil thinks is the right way

Not at all!! I think the SHOPS THEMSELVES should decide how they operate.

but rather what the majority thinks.

51% of the population should not have the right to decide when some shop opens their door.

So what are you complaining about really?

Shops not being allowed to open on Sundays.

Wow, the unemployment problem has been solved by Phil.

I never claimed it would solve it, only help it.

You’re very dramatic with your posts today!

Good idea, it’s always safer that way.