Maximum prices
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Transcript of Maximum prices
Maximum Prices / Price Caps – Some Topical Issues
Housing Rent Controls
Energy Price Caps to control fuel bills
Caps on CEO Pay /Bonuses
Cap on Mobile Roaming Charges
Price capping for water companies
Cap on interest rates charged by pay-‐day lenders
Cap on annual charges to occupaDonal pension plans
Currency peg e.g. Hong Kong / US
dollar
The government or an industry regulator can set a maximum price to prevent the market price from rising above a certain level
Maximum Price Analysis Diagram
QuanDty supplied
P1
Q1
A maximum price must be set below the normal free market equilibrium price to have any effect on price and output
Market Demand
Max Price
Q2
Price
Q3
Market Supply
Max Price (price ceiling)
Free Market Equilibrium
An alternaDve to a maximum rent is a rent subsidy for housing which is the equivalent of an increase in income
Maximum Price Analysis – “Black Market” Prices
QuanDty supplied
P1
Q1
If quanDty is restricted to Q3, then some consumers will be willing to pay a higher “unofficial price” at P2 Producers can extract extra consumer surplus at higher price
Market Demand
Max Price
Q2
Price
Q3
Max Price
P2 Market Supply
Extracted consumer surplus above the official price ceiling
Possible unofficial price above the ceiling
Some raDoning or aucDon process may be needed if output = Q3
Applied Micro: Plans for an Energy Price Cap
Output of gas
P1
Q1
D
Max Price
Price of gas
Q3
S
In 2013, ex-‐Labour Leader Ed Milliband, announced that he would consider capping fuel prices if elected into Government in 2015
• Milliband argued that rising fuel prices benefit only the privately-‐owned firms that sell the fuel.
• These firms benefit unfairly because there is limited compeDDon in the fuel generaDon and retail markets.
• Because demand for fuel is price inelasDc, an increase in fuel bills reduces people’s real purchasing power
• The main case for the energy price cap proposal is to increase fairness for families on low incomes
Opponents of a price cap argue that more compeDDon is a beaer long-‐term strategy to lower prices
EvaluaGng Price Caps in Different Markets
A maximum price also involves a normaGve judgement on behalf of the government about what that price should be
Benefits • A useful surrogate for compeDDon
• Holds prices down – consumer welfare gains
• IncenDves for businesses to cut costs to maintain profits
Downsides • Reduces profits – less money for capital investment
• May dissuade new entrants
• Firms might raise prices in other ways
AlternaGves • Measures to reduce entry barriers in an industry
• Higher taxes on monopoly profits e.g. a windfall tax