Quote:
Originally Posted by vxf
It is far from clear that price controls would help any market... price controls generally create deadweight costs and lead to suboptimal levels of supply.
|
I'm not sure what you mean by "help any market." But I'm pretty sure that the point of these regulations is not to "help" the market. It is to restrict the market.
And it is very clear (and has been for many decades) that these regulations (and other, similar regulations, like shop closing laws) have had their intended effect. They are basically working perfectly - the number of small bookstores in France or Germany is unlike anything you will find in the US.
Quote:
But I think that is irrelevant. You want to support your local bookstore? Donate your own money, but don't try to donate mine.
|
This, of course is sort of the key point. (Sort of because you are not actually being forced to donate anything).