price control

This term refers to a regulatory mechanism used by governments to stabilize markets or protect consumers from inflation. It typically manifests as a price ceiling, which prevents prices from rising above a certain level, or a price floor, which prevents them from falling too low. In economic discourse, the term often carries a negative connotation regarding market efficiency, as such interventions can lead to shortages or surpluses.

Because this is a compound noun describing a policy or a system of regulation, it is frequently used in the singular to describe the general concept of government intervention. When referring to specific laws or multiple different regulatory measures across various sectors, the plural form is used.