Free Market Or Fair Market? The Price Regulation Debate
In every business, the major aim is to make profits and handling a business comes with it's own expenses, from buying items to make products to paying the workers who assist in running the business. So it only makes sense that businesses work towards adjusting their price tags to earn their profits but there's a but.
One thing I'll always be against is, excess profits. Of course, it would feel like God did it for them when they gain more than enough profits from their customers but all I see is, extortion from struggling customers. It's why the need for price regulations is being considered. I do wonder how it is in other countries because it's different here.

From what I've seen in local markets at other countries, there's a price tag for everything and there are weighs to make sure no one is cheating the other. We do have such over here but somehow, there are still dubious acts going on to cheat or gain more profits. Some say honesty won't take a business far so the cunny actions.
I don't think it's bad with how most business owners inflate or reduce their prices but it shouldn't be however they want. I remember a time at the market, I saw some sellers of same products that is on high demand holding meetings to decide on a better price to sell to their customers so there won't be any confusion.
It's cool and even though that kinda increased the competition in the market, customers didn't struggle to buy since every other seller was giving the items at same or very close amounts. We all know when a product has a outrageous price tag, that is what we should focus on putting an end with. Our Seasons decide price tags too.

I've not had to live in a country where prices are regulated so I'm not sure how better it is to live in such, maybe that would help me better in my budgets when I go to visit the markets or want to patronize a business since I know beforehand what the prices are like. But I think there should be a space for decisions from business owners.
Inflation can happen because of high demand, season change or even other factors that could hurt a business total profits which the owners will try to recover by selling their products higher. A lot of things will have to be considered for prices to be regulated in a country but I don't think it will fit well in the country that I do live in.
The business owners, customers and the economy of a country needs to be considered if price regulations will be a better option for everyone. Excess profits or extortion should stop, especially for items that are on high demand. It's not easy to own a business so the owners should have some freedom to earn profits but not at the expense of making customer service struggle.
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i liked how you noted those sellers meeting to set one price. from an accounting view, that looks like a mini cartel, it may calm chaos today but it often shifts power and buyers pay more tomorrow :( Better fix is posted prices with clear unit weights and a simple rule against price gouging in emergencies, while letting normal seasons move prices as costs change. your right that excess profit feels like extortion, but fair margins keep stock moving and staff paid, otherwise the shelves go empty and my calculator crys :)
You are right about the fair margin, thanks for stopping by.