> if by "solution", you mean some system we can put in place that will magically prevent them
Only a distributed system like capitalism rises to your bar of "magically prevent[ing]". Centralization is not magic, but when it works, it works. I prefer distributed systems too, but when it's hard to make the right incentivizes, we shouldn't throw in the towel.
Surely the parent post doesn't use a definition of "solution" that trivially invalidates their point. I think you are projecting your own preference for distributed systems as an inevitability.
In fact, I've thought of a "'race to the top' tariffs" system, which does at least create the right incentives between nations. If you are big market (e.g. US) put tariff on the difference between the manufacturing country's externalizes tax, and your own. This holds the total punitive disincentive constant, no matter who receives the revenue. The exporting country is now incentivized to raise their externalities tax so the tax revenue goes to them rather than the importing country. So simple!!
In a free market, yes. Again, "free market" is not the same as "capitalism". The robber barons who got the US government to grant them monopolies of railroad routes in the late 19th century were capitalists; but their revenue was not "dictated by the various consumer demands of mainly individuals and families".
Robber barons are not part of 'capitalism' either. If you have a free market of goods and a free market of labor, then you inevitably have capitalism, since someone will acquire enough money to hire labor to operate his productive goods.
Only a distributed system like capitalism rises to your bar of "magically prevent[ing]". Centralization is not magic, but when it works, it works. I prefer distributed systems too, but when it's hard to make the right incentivizes, we shouldn't throw in the towel.
Surely the parent post doesn't use a definition of "solution" that trivially invalidates their point. I think you are projecting your own preference for distributed systems as an inevitability.
In fact, I've thought of a "'race to the top' tariffs" system, which does at least create the right incentives between nations. If you are big market (e.g. US) put tariff on the difference between the manufacturing country's externalizes tax, and your own. This holds the total punitive disincentive constant, no matter who receives the revenue. The exporting country is now incentivized to raise their externalities tax so the tax revenue goes to them rather than the importing country. So simple!!