Shortages Under Free Prices : The Case of Ukraine in 1992 /

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...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Lane, Timothy
Other Authors: Ossowski, Rolando, Sundakov, Alexander
Format: Journal
Language:English
Published: Washington, D.C. : International Monetary Fund, 1994.
Series:IMF Working Papers; Working Paper ; No. 1994/010
Subjects:
Online Access:Full text available on IMF
Description
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.
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Physical Description:1 online resource (28 pages)
Format:Mode of access: Internet
ISSN:1018-5941
Access:Electronic access restricted to authorized BRAC University faculty, staff and students