----------------- HES POSTING ----------------- I have heard this argument before Barkley going back to Coase in about 1960. But the result depends upon all income effects being zero, (or identical). I think that the class of goods that have no joint consumption aspects is very small. Even eating alone in your room has an impact on others' utility. The fully defined system of property rights for which the libertarians strive is impossible. Rod Hay ------------ FOOTER TO HES POSTING ------------ For information, send the message "info HES" to [log in to unmask]