Question

What does inflation look like in a country that imposes and maintains price ceilings on goods and services?

Short answer

In a country that imposes and maintains price ceilings on goods/services, inflation may appear minimal or even nonexistent due to the artificially lower prices. However, this can lead to shortages, black market activity, and potential decrease in quality of goods/services, which are indirect forms of inflation not captured in the direct price.

Step-by-step solution

Understand Inflation and Price Ceilings

Inflation is a general increase in prices and fall in the purchasing value of money. A price ceiling is a government-imposed limit on the price that can be charged for a product or service within the economy. It's generally set below the equilibrium price in a free market economy to make products or services affordable, especially fundamental resources like food or rental services.

Discuss the Effect of a Price Ceiling

When a price ceiling is imposed and maintained on goods and services, it results in an overall lower price on those goods/services. This can lead to a shortage, as suppliers may not be able to or wish to continue offering those goods/services at the new lower price, while demand likely increases since the prices are lower. As a result, this can lead to a 'black market' where goods/services are sold illegally above the price ceiling. There is also a possibility of decrease in quality for goods/services, as suppliers try to save costs.

Connect Price Ceiling to Inflation

In an economy with a price ceiling, inflation may appear suppressed at first glance due to the artificially imposed lower prices. However, the aforementioned shortages, black market activity, and possible decrease in quality of goods/services can actually signify hidden, indirect forms of inflation not captured in the direct price.