Prognosis
Italy’s Plan to Cap Price of Face Masks at 50 Cents Has Flopped
- Emergency chief Arcuri had promised they would cost 0.50 euros
- But now masks are hard to find, and the blame game has started
Pedestrians walk through Villa Borghese park in Rome on May 9.
Photographer: Antonio Masiello/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
Italy’s attempt to dictate the price of face masks is backfiring just as the country starts relaxing its lockdown.
On May 3, emergency chief Domenico Arcuri announced that the price of masks would be capped at 0.50 euros (plus 22% value added tax), and that a wide distribution would be ensured thanks to agreements with supermarkets and pharmacies. Some retailers even said they would renounce any markup on their sales.