Social monopolies are often called artificial monopolies, and in the author's previous works they are so called; but the term social monopolies appears to be a better term than artificial monopolies, because the work artificial carries with it a certain criticism, which anticipates the argument concerning their effects. It is preferable to discuss them hereafter and find out whether they are objectionable or not.
The term natural monopolies is a convenient designation, and has become so widely accepted that it could not easily be changed. We may also have mixed monopolies, as where a political unit owns monopolistic property, which is managed by a private person, or where a private person owns monopolistic property, which is managed by a public agency.
