Price controls are never a good idea, yet they seem to be a staple of policymakers across the globe. Inevitably, they result in dislocations in the market that frustrate both consumers and producers. If prices are too low, shortages emerge leaving consumers in the cold and producers disinterested in serving that market. High prices create gluts, as unwanted goods sit on the shelves while producers are enticed to produce even more. So it should be no surprise that Sen. Dick Durbin’s (D-Ill.) attempt to control fees on debit cards has done little to help consumers, while the retailers who lobbied for the law are quietly pocketing billions. One study found that the Durbin Amendment transferred more than $8 billion from banks to retailers.
