What is Price Control?
Price control refers to a direct measure on the part of the Government in fixing the prices for achieving certain macro economic goals like social welfare, efficient resource allocation, prevention of exploitation of the consumers etc. The Price Control may be informal or formal. In case of informal price control the producers voluntarily agree to regulate the prices which are within limits suggested by the Government whereas under formal price control, the prices are statutorily fixed by the Government and have to be accepted by the producers. The government regulation that makes it illegal to charge a price higher than a specified level is Price ceiling. There are two types of price ceilings: one is set above the equilibrium price and one that is set underneath. The one that is set above the equilibrium has no effect because it does not constrain the market forces. The one that is set Continue reading