Most pear and apple juice comes from China, even in countries like Canada and USA that produce lots of both. Grapes do grow quite well in the DR.
- Thread starter Givadogahome
- Start date
Surprisingly most overpriced items in DR.
On the premier golf courses in both the DR and Thailand the vision of seniors gnashing their film star perfect teeth when their shot lands in the rough or their golf cart stalls should become commonplace. Of course other parts of the body can be restored. Dick Cheney has a new heart at the age of 71. Of course Evel Knievel had a new liver.
pi2
But then again, it doesn't make sense to compare USA prices to Belgium prices. And when going to Mediamarkt in The Netherlands and in Belgium, the items I were looking for all had the same price.
very true... and also usually has to do with who the big contributors / benefactors of the school are.
It's really not a difficult concept. Anything that is imported weather it is electronics or food is going to be higher priced, however there are a lot of products grown or made here that are equal to or less than what you would find in North America or Europe. Also many services are less than what you might normally be used to.
LTS
LTS
Importing certainly contributes to price... but it's not the final determining factor. Consider the fact that almost all manufactured consumer goods are imported to the U.S., (as is a lot of the produce too - from Chile); and we have really cheap prices compared to most of the world. THE REAL determining factor is very simple... supply and demand plus competition. In other words... good old fashioned capitalism. ;-)
True.
But "capitalism" is an added value over/under the cost in any product or service.
No , farm subsidies in the US determinge the price of pigmeat ; car company subsidies and import prevention in the US determine the price of cars. If car companies, farmers, pig rearers etc. were allowed to go belly up the economy would not function. Countries like DR try and maintain stable market condions for their producers - this in the long run lowers prices.
pi2
There was a documentary about subsidies i saw in Norway about ten years ago. in it, they said that because of subsidies, the U. was able to sell exported chicken in the Dominican Republic for less than the local farmers were able to sell it!! Now, how is that possible? one word: Subsidies.
Same goes for sugar and many other agriculture items. With the US and E.U governments heavily subsidizing their local farmers, they're able to undersale farmers in both Africa and South America.
Now that should be a crime!
Same goes for sugar and many other agriculture items. With the US and E.U governments heavily subsidizing their local farmers, they're able to undersale farmers in both Africa and South America.
Now that should be a crime!
DR goverment controls or owns the main banks who control credit flow into the community.
It sets minimum wages/working conditions so people who are earning have sufficient wages to buy rice, beans, chicken and other commodities.
It provides welfare/pension payments to those who are not ,solidarity, so at least poorer members of the community can afford basic foodstuffs thus providing stability for the farmers, vendors.
It subsidises farmers in case of hardship e.g. a hurricane and organises fertilizer and other inputs at reasonable cost.
It controls imports of certain foods that could compete with local production when there is dumping on the World market.
Many state employees and projects.
All this contributes to stable market conditions for the producers.
If as an individual I am offered a job say on the railway:
a) If it is a state enterprise then the job is guaranteed for a reasonable time and is secure.
b) If it free enterprise I might be out on my ear in 6 months and have someone else bidding for my job.
If I have common sense the rate I am prepared to work for is lower in case a because I can be reasonably sure of funds to pay mortgage etc. for a long period of time. I can also save more because savings are not used up inbetween short term engagements. Savings contribute to a stable economy. All things being equal this results in lower prices for the consumers.
a is a more stable proposition for both the individual and the economy.
DR has many enterprises partially/fully owned or run by the state. This is like Singapore.
pi2
Let me try this again in a language easier to understand: In the documentary i saw in Norway about U.S and E.U farm subsidies, it clearly stated that U.S farmers were able to export their chickens all the way to the Dominican Republic and undersell local farmers despite the export cost. this means that the U.S farmers are being heavily, heavily subsidized to such an extant, that their able to export things thousands of miles away and still make money...all thanks to good Ole Uncle Sam.
The same holds true for the E.U subsidies in europe hurting African farmers.
This has the consequence of hyper-inflating certain prices.
Does this sound remotely fair?
Frank
The same holds true for the E.U subsidies in europe hurting African farmers.
This has the consequence of hyper-inflating certain prices.
Does this sound remotely fair?
Frank