Peter Martin, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University
We really are being charged more than we used to be. If the government is concerned about price gouging, it could try this bold idea: offering its own low-cost bank loans.
Woolworths promoted itself as a place where “goods are so cheap and shopping easy and pleasant” when it opened 100 years ago. Australia’s biggest grocer has moved away from its humble beginnings.
Australians are being overcharged by supermarkets, power, transport and other service providers, according to a report which has called for government action to protect consumers.
Why wait until a Senate inquiry to explain how supermarkets come up with the prices in their stores? There’s an opportunity now for the big supermarkets to be more transparent on pricing.
Some economists have defended price gouging, saying it helps increase supply and prevent against hoarding. An ethicist suggests this might be missing the point.