In an effort to combat rampant inflation, Croatia's government introduced price controls for common grocery items on February 7, following historical precedent set by Emperor Diocletian in 301 AD. Diocletian's edict aimed to curb inflation but proved disastrous, often leading to shortages and a black market. Similarly, the effectiveness of Croatia's current measures remains uncertain; while the penalties for non-compliance are significantly lower than Diocletian's, there are concerns about potential market distortions. Consumers are still adapting to this new system affecting 70 essential products.
In 301 AD, the Emperor Diocletian made a bold but ultimately unsuccessful bid to address inflation across the eastern half of the divided Roman Empire.
Now Croatia's government is trying a similar tactic to rein in prices that have soared in recent years and sparked protests and retail boycotts by the country's beleaguered consumers.
The penalties are less drastic than those decreed by Diocletian, mandating a fine of up to 30,000 euros for retailers breaking the rules.
It is unclear whether the new edict will be any more successful than Diocletian's, which economists say ended up being counterproductive by causing shortages.
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