No space of my own

Twice in the last week, I've had a real problem when arriving for work.

So what? Doesn't everyone have problems? True, but this was one that our heads of department recently spent an hour discussing.

The problem is this. Core working hours at Spotlight Verlag are between 10 a.m and 4 p.m. Most people start well before 10 a.m., which means that the company's parking spaces are usually full by 9.30. So, when I arrived at 9.55, there were no spaces left. I had to drive around for 15 minutes to find a parking space on the street.

Big deal, I can hear you yawning. Why don't I arrive earlier or use public transport. I won't bore you with the answers. My point is that this is an interesting case of supply being lower than demand. Spotlight has fewer parking spaces than the number of employees who come by car.

So what is the solution? Normally, I would turn to Maynard, my pet parrot, who is an brilliant economist and an expert in questions of supply and demand (more or less his only words). Unfortunately, Maynard has gone off on a winter fly-drive holiday, so I'm on my own.

Anyway, one solution would be to increase supply, by Spotlight renting more parking spaces. But that's expensive. Another solution would be to reduce demand by charging staff for the right to park.

One could even auction the parking spaces to the highest bidders. (I believe the London School of Economics (LSE), where I studied in the 1980s, once tried this solution.) But this is unfair, as it favours those with the highest incomes.

Another solution is rationing, deciding who is most in need of a parking space. This could be on the basis of seniority (heads of department?), length of service (10 years of more?), family status (priority for parents?) or any other system. Spotlight already has a mini rationing system: the CEO and his deputy have their own parking spaces.

After an hour's discussion, the heads of department couldn't agree on a new solution, so it was left as it was: a system of first come, first served. I support this for two reasons, even when I don't get a parking space. First, it is the least divisive solution. Second, it is the most efficient one, guaranteeing that all parking spaces get used every day.

Maynard, by the way, has just sent me a text message to say he agrees. And, yes, he's having a nice holiday, thanks.