Shortages Under Free Prices: The Case of Ukraine in 1992

By Timothy D. Lane, Rolando Ossowski, Alexander Sundakov

January 1, 1994

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Timothy D. Lane, Rolando Ossowski, and Alexander Sundakov. Shortages Under Free Prices: The Case of Ukraine in 1992, (USA: International Monetary Fund, 1994) accessed September 18, 2024

Disclaimer: This Working Paper should not be reported as representing the views of the IMF.The views expressed in this Working Paper are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of the IMF or IMF policy. Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to further debate

Summary

This paper examines the coexistence of free prices and shortages for a range of consumer goods in Ukraine during 1992. Enterprises making consumer goods were substantially free to set market-clearing prices. Yet, Ukraine’s official consumer market experienced continued shortages, while the same goods traded at higher prices in parallel markets. The paper advances a model of enterprise behavior in an environment of central allocation of inputs at preferential prices. We show that central allocation of key inputs according to perceived “need” creates incentives for excess demand to be perpetuated despite formal price liberalization. The analysis brings forth the importance of abolishing allocation mechanisms for price liberalization to bring its full efficiency effects.

Subject: Environment, Inflation, Price controls, Prices, Tax incentives

Keywords: Circumstances enterprise, Consumer goods, Demand price, Enterprise decision-making autonomy, Enterprise insider, Excess demand, Free market, Inflation, Input cost, Price controls, Profit maximization, Profit-maximizing firm, Representative firm, WP

Publication Details

Pages:

28
Volume:

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DOI:

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Issue:

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Series:

Working Paper No. 1994/010
Stock No:

WPIEA0101994
ISBN:

9781451926606
ISSN:

1018-5941

Notes

Also published in Staff Papers, Vol. 41, No. 3, September 1994.

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