WHY NOT STATE RUN SUPERMARKETS?

These are areas of the nation’s economy considered too important or not profitable enough to be left to the private sector.

Governments in mixed economies like ours usually get involved in the production of some goods and services in order to guarantee essential services to all citizens.

I also consider the provision of food an essential aspect of social governance and would like to make a plea to our Prime Minister to give some consideration to the idea of State operated supermarkets, given the runaway prices we are currently experiencing in the nation’s supermarkets. Our neighbour Venezuela has adopted such a policy in an effort to drag down the price of food, and to ensure that the less fortunate in society are provided with basic commodities.

S Mc Neil

smcneil@central-bank.org