Can the STEEM Price increase merely by reducing the costs?

Ecosystem in trouble ...

Steemit and Steem (block-chain) are always called and emphasized as "Ecosystem", which is IMO quite a tricky term (because it has double or triple meanings). If it is "Economical System" - then perhaps economics are not going so well lately, as evident from latest official announcements and discussions on that as a reaction. I have previously already pointed out my own opinions ([1](https://steemit.com/steem/@vimukti-ananda/bump-the-dump-hump-the-pump-lump-the-gump), [2](https://steemit.com/steemit/@vimukti-ananda/where-do-fallen-angels-dwell-mcd-2), [3](https://steemit.com/steemit/@vimukti-ananda/ocean-world-of-steemit-ecosystem-votes-farming-and-content-indifference-in-fish-farm), [4](https://steemit.com/steemit/@vimukti-ananda/change-is-within-community-of-people-or-bots-organic-votes-vs-dust-votes), [5](https://steemit.com/steemit/@vimukti-ananda/thoughts-about-rc-same-old-parable-of-talents-principle-employed)) and concerns about this business model, that it is NOT exactly an "Economic System", but at most is just a "business model" and not very good one nor wisely ran. As well as that the people who keep talking about it as an "Ecosystem" are apparently are not very good at actual Economics. There are very few real Economists who has bothered to do research and analysis of Steemit and Steem. So far I have found only 1 such analysis (actually series of 5 extensive posts), done by @spectrumecons which I recommend very much: "[Is the Steem ecosystem in disequilibrium?](https://steemit.com/steem/@spectrumecons/is-the-steem-ecosystem-in-disequilibrium-part-5-combination-of-solutions)" (links on previous 4 parts are included in there)

Thoughts on ongoing debates about recent announcement by Steemit CEO Ned Scott

I think many people know that few days ago Ned has posted the news about "structural reorganization" of Steemit Inc. Those who haven't heard or read about it yet, [here is the OP](https://steemit.com/steem/@ned/2fajh9-steemit-update). It has been Resteemed by many, also got a lot of comments [elsewhere on web](https://www.google.com/search?q=Steemit+70%). Such as this: "[Decentralized Social Media Platform Steemit Lays Off 70% of Staff Following Market Crash](https://cointelegraph.com/news/decentralized-social-media-platform-steemit-lays-off-70-of-staff-following-market-crash)". It has also stirred up many comments and opinions. [One example here](https://youtu.be/_JzQNVn4l0Q?t=1m11s) (video), good point made there: >... fundamental flaws of Steemit being basically a "Whale Paradise" and a "Useless Wasteland" for many new users who joined - can't be easily reckoned with. and a rise of alternative Social Media blockchain platforms may of course question the long-term survival of Steemit. especially if they can not compete Financially with {those} newcomers. ![whales paradise](https://www.tourismgoldcoast.com/tours/whales-in-paradise/whale-watching/whale-and-boat-16188-ws.jpg) ([source](https://www.tourismgoldcoast.com/tours/whales-in-paradise/whale-watching.html)) [Here is another one](https://youtu.be/Hr_qp1hImRA?t=5m19s), notable: >Obviously, this is SCARY! because this is a very well known token out there on the market... and if they have fallen so much ... that is how BAD is getting! Some other people openly express their [disappointment and outright final decision](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EV-y0ZhE_Sw) to stop investing into STEEM. Similar thoughts [expressed](https://steemit.com/steemit/@roundbeargames/just-my-recent-thoughts-and-status#@dwiitavita/dwiitavita-re-roundbeargames-just-my-recent-thoughts-and-status-20181129t103756104z) on Steemit too: >Steemit like ghost town now, I don't want to think too much if Steemit will go down with all the problems that occur ...

Selling price Vs Cost Price; Demand Vs Supply

On Steemit itself there are also a lot of discussions, first of all in the 600+ comments under the [OP by Ned](https://steemit.com/steem/@ned/2fajh9-steemit-update). There are some related posts too, like [this one](https://steemit.com/steem/@apshamilton/properly-decentralising-steem-and-cutting-costs-by-witnesses-running-their-own-servers-and-apis) I was reading today. Which I started to comment on initially, but then decided to dedicate my own entirely new post to that. Because as I can see that a lot of people talking about mostly techy stuff, such as here, about nodes, costs of hosting, etc. However I do not see so much discussions about actual Price of STEEM coin itself. although in this post it was briefly mentioned: >Impact of Steem price. If you own your hardware then you can ride out low prices. If your rent it you are committed to fees every month and may need to power down and sell to meet those costs. Let's clarify: more exactly it looks like here it is rather talk about "COST price" of STEEM coin. however cost price itself doesn't necessary helps to boost up the SELLING Price of something! I mean, cost price (to produce / manufacture, transport, store, etc) of some product, although important part of the Selling price - is not the Selling price. it is merely a cost of expenses to make that product and make it available for buyer. while actual Selling Price of a Product also includes the "profit margin" (which includes various other things). better / higher Selling price is influenced by Demand! and in regards to Crypto, such Demand for any cryptocurrency and in particular to this STEEM coin - is dictated or determined by the Volumes it is being Traded on on Exchanges! and there on Exchanges Demand can be influenced by what? perhaps one of factors - as a speculative asset (with high volatility and price fluctuation). another thing is - if such coin is being actually USED (be it a unit of value storage / savings; or as money; or as Utility token somewhere) and therefore DEMANDED by those users. ![supply demand](https://s3.amazonaws.com/user-media.venngage.com/376043-9fa5429728492d584d5fd75e653704d9.jpg) ([source](https://sites.google.com/a/oroville.wednet.edu/politcal-science-125-global-issues-winter-2017/part-3-lesson-34-supply-and-demand)) Cost Price itself is merely about SUPPLY! but in business, it is rather DEMAND that drives Selling Price up - not the Supply! although yes, Limited Supply may add to the increase of Selling Price. however in case of STEEM - there is no lack of Supply, perhaps can even say that there is "over-supply", i.e. Supply overpasses Demand by a LOT! which is being translated in the ... Decreases of the Selling Prices. So, it is quite amazing that people keep talking about all such techy stuff, which addresses mostly or only the Cost Price and Supply - but do not discuss anything or very little, about DEMAND! while at the same time they all are rather in fact concerned about the SELLING Price of the STEEM coin! But hey! then apart from discussing the various ideas about "reducing Costs" (that's what mainly Ned's post was about) - there is an URGENT need to talk about THAT part: about the how to increase the DEMAND! so that more people on Exchanges would actually WANT to buy more STEEM - in that way driving the price of it higher. I mean, it is practically almost unreasonable to keep talking about how to solve the problem of Falling Selling Price, which is the result of DECREASING DEMAND - through the ideas of Increasing Supply! even IF the Cost Price of the coin would be reduced - still, without Increasing Demand, the Selling Price would merely be that much, around that very Cost Price. isn't it obvious? :D ![demand supply](http://traderlyf.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/ds.png) ([source](http://traderlyf.com/scalping-the-demand-supply-zone/))

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