In times of inflation

Back when Greece was still using the drachma as it currency, there was a bakery on downtown Athens' Kaningos Square that didn't sell bread, but just made it. It was located in the basement of the then ministry of commerce, and it was where wannabe ministry bakers made all kinds of goods in order to ascertain their "fair" price. The price of bread, like of almost all other products, was controlled. In today's terms, there was a "cap on its retail sale price," as various leftists and far-right politicians have been urgently requesting.

We don't know where all that "fair-priced" bread made by the ministry ended up. It is very likely that the employees took it home. What we remember is that inflation was running at 20%-25% and the newspapers had the permanent headline "Bread to become a luxury product." The issue of inflation was also a concern for Greek households during the...