I recently wrote an in-depth examination of one of the country’s most persistent economic policy challenges and its broader implications for businesses, consumers, investment, competition, and sustainable growth.

The article looks beyond the immediate effects of price control policies to examine how prolonged intervention can reshape market incentives, constrain investment, distort competition, and create operational and institutional challenges for businesses across industries, from consumer goods and detergents to pharmaceuticals and other essential products. Drawing on Iran’s experience alongside international cases, it explores what can be learned from economies that have pursued different approaches to price regulation.

The note argues for a shift in perspective: from suppressing prices toward addressing the underlying drivers of affordability and market inefficiency. It concludes with policy recommendations centered on targeted consumer support, stronger competition, smarter regulation, improved market mechanisms, and greater macroeconomic stability.

The full article is available below.

Download EN: Price Controls in Iran
Download FA: قیمت‌گذاری دستوری در ایران