Would you agree on a price control on condoms? It is overly-expensive compared to the cost to make them. They are made of latex or plastic materials which are extremly cheap yet the retail price of the final product is very high.
Before you say that a price control would decrease production and cause shortage, I don't agree. Because condoms, unlike other materials such as oil, are of almost infinite supply, just like plastic bags. The cost of production of condoms is comparable to that of a plastic bag, or maybe even lower. So there is no reason to charge so much for a product which is essentially a mini fortified plastic bag. The condom companies are making supernormal profit, they would still be profitable if a price control kicks in and force them to make only normal profits.
The price control would likely to create more demand among the populace, because the lower price would attract more people to buy it, including those who would otherwise have un-protected sex. This greatly increased consumption of condoms would in turn benefit the health of the society as it decreases the prevalence of STDs and prevents unwanted pregnancies, these in turn decrease the health expenditure of the government, which in turn decrease the burden of taxpayers.
I really don't see why such a price control has not been already enacted. The only one who will lose are those big companies who make condoms and charge an outrageous price for these. Everyone else WINS, the government wins as it decrease the healthy expense, the tax payers wins because their taxes would not be wasted on things (STDs, pregnancies etc. )which could be prevented, the people who have sex wins, every single one in the society wins except those greedy condom companies.
So what is your opinion on this?
The condom companies are making supernormal profit,
You can get free condoms at many places. I remember 6-7 years ago Warped Tour would hand out tons of condoms, so many we'd blow them into balloons and throw them around. I'm sure clinics also have condoms as well as other places or other social groups or organizations.
You are only looking at the material factors, but not considering the subjective use value. Yes, it's a piece of latex, but if I use this simple piece of latex that has been made specifically for sexual use, I won't get a sexually transmitted disease, nor will I get my girlfriend pregnant. That seems like a deal for a 12 pack of condoms for $8.
Yea, most planned parenthoods give out loads of free condoms if you go in there with your girlfriend and both of you get checked. Also, you can get relatively cheap condoms at any sex store, and in Spain pharmacies sell condoms for cheap in dispensers outside of the actual building (so you can get them even when the pharmacy is closed).
I actually did some checking and the parent corporations of durex and trojan have experienced pretty high growth rates... like 20%/yr over the last few years. This is probably not due to any innovations in the condom making process, but might have something to do with all the government involvement? Passing out free condoms etc.... I mean if you can't get people to use them you may as well have them blowing them up like baloons at the warped tour huh :)
At 15 years old making condom balloons and bouncing them up on stage felt like an accomplishment.
Hah it wasn't a shot at you... I was commenting on the negligent way condoms have become distributed by the state.
Ha, I know. If someone's passing out free condoms the chances they'll be used for sexual reasons is low. If I purchase them myself it's different than getting a free surplus of maybe 20 condoms, of course I'll use them for mischief.
Read until you have something to write...Write until you have nothing to write...when you have nothing to write, read...read until you have something to write...Jeremiah
Government to control condom prices???? hahahaha. The more people there are, the more taxpayers there are, the more money to government, the richer politicians get.
(english is not my native language, sorry for grammar.)