Prices and nuance
XXXX señaló en declaraciones a medios que todos los inspectores están trabajando en la calle al máximo de sus posibilidades para asegurase de que no se llevan a cabo alzas en los precios injustificadas.”
I quote this from an article in one of yesterday’s newspapers. My interpretation of it is:
“XXXX said in a declaration to the media that all inspectors are working in the streets as best they can to make sure that raises in unjustifiable prices are not carried out.”
My question is regarding, “…alzas en los precios injustificados.”. Doesn’t this imply that the prices were already too high and that they are trying to prevent any further raises?
I don’t know what the writer’s intent was, but wouldn’t “….alzas injustificadas en los precios.” (Unjustifiable raises in prices) have been a better choice?
There is a difference in meaning, no, or can the Spanish mean both things?
2 Answers
It is "alzas injustificadas (...en los precios)".
The rise of prices is what is pegged us "unjustified", not the prices itself.
In a regulated economy -not a free one- some price rises can be defined as unjustified because there is no cost component, including salaries, raw materials, financial costs, devaluation of the currency, etc. to explain for them. That means "the capitalist chap got greedy and speculative ... he must be punished". That's why the inspectors on the streets, who work as a sort of an economic police.
Examples of countries where currently those paragraphs make sense: Venezuela.
So I was correct in my translation of the quote, but maybe that the author put the adjective in the wrong place?
Yes, I follow closely what is happening in Venezuela, but this case is Puerto Rico. It seems that it has a government department that monitors, and it appears from the article, that regulates prices. This is not good. It has to do with shortages because of hurricane María. Some merchants have increased prices. If a consumer doesn't have the option to shop for the same thing at a different shop because of the shortage caused by the weather, then maybe it is not a bad idea. I mean basics, like food and higiene prodcuts.
