Petr Shelishch: “If changes in supply and demand are considered speculation, then we will undermine our market.”
The Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) proposes to prohibit trade monopolists from inflating prices for goods. According to the department, the ban will come into force in cases of a sharp, more than 30%, increase in the cost of goods within 60 days. And provided that this increase is in no way connected with objective economic prerequisites. If the antimonopoly bill is adopted, then such rules will be in force until the end of 2024.
Of course, we can be glad that the price chaos in the consumer market, which every buyer has probably encountered, is coming to an end. But at the same time, the question arises: what kind of economy do we have if trade can change price tags without any good reason? This is completely contrary to both market laws and, in principle, common sense. But if such cases did not exist in nature, there would be no corresponding FAS bill.
The store director got off on the wrong foot and raised prices – this is just about us. Speculative consumer policies are not uncommon. Let’s just remember the sharp and unmotivated increase in the price of sugar (by 78%) and sunflower oil (by 38%) at the end of 2020. Then Vladimir Putin was forced to personally intervene in the situation with prices.
The list of goods for which monitoring will begin is still unknown; it is being developed by the government. But it is not difficult to assume that it will, first of all, contain those same 25 socially significant products, control over which has already been in place in Russia for many years. Meat, bread, milk, some types of frozen fish…
And FAS monitoring itself has already been tested in online retail. The only difference is that previously trade control standards were more lenient. Previously, “under the hood” The FAS received a 30 percent increase in prices within 90 days, and now the regulator proposes to shorten this period by a whole month. If a violation is detected, antimonopoly officers will send a letter to the violating company. And if she ignores it and does not lower prices, she will fine her in the amount of 0.03% of the proceeds of goods sold. But no less than 50 thousand rubles.
Of course, buyers have doubts – Will such monitoring become a reliable protector against unjustified price increases? Where will FAS find the required number of inspectors to monitor growth dynamics for each product? What happens if prices jump, say, by 29% in 61 days? This is also a significant increase in price. But it turns out that bribes from the monopolist will be smooth, and he will not bear any responsibility.
However, some experts suggest that Russians should not bother themselves with unnecessary questions. In their opinion, the sword of Damocles hangs over the manufacturers, more terrible than fines from the FAS. These are the upcoming presidential elections on March 17, 2024. It is unlikely that anyone will risk sharply inflating prices (and even economically unjustified ones) before this date.
We asked the Chairman of the Union of Consumers of Russia, Petr Shelishch, about the prospects for the FAS’s fight against rising prices.
“Actually, we already have a law on state regulation of trading activities, and such a norm is spelled out there,” he said. — If prices rise sharply over a certain period of time, regions have the right to limit them. But, from my point of view, it is not the antimonopoly service that should monitor the situation, but Rosstat. This is his prerogative.
— This is not about fines, but about the fact that regions have the right to stop prices. Let me emphasize: not an obligation, but a right. I believe that the FAS encourages the subjects of the Federation to use this right. Although, according to Rosstat, I have not seen any precedents for prices to rise sharply recently.
— So far it has not been included anywhere. There are subtleties here. When they explain to us what a market is, they usually remember Adam Smith and his “invisible hand.”
— Capital is invested in those industries that generate profit. The money goes into expanding production of products that will generate more income.
A simple example. With high demand among the population, chicken eggs were in short supply. For different reasons. If you don’t raise the price for them, the shelves will be empty.
If changes in supply and demand are considered speculation, as in Soviet times, then we will simply undermine our market.