Politics and Pricing in the Grocery Store

Can politicians lower food prices? That was a question recently put before consumers in a survey conducted by University of Illinois researchers. Specifically, the agricultural college survey asked which political party, if any, those queried thought could help to reduce food prices in grocery stores. Maria Kalaitzandonakes is an Assistant Professor of Agricultural and Consumer Economics…

“In August, we asked about this, about whether they thought politicians could lower food prices. So specifically, we looked at who they thought could lower food prices, Republicans and Democrats, whether it would require bipartisan support or whether they didn't believe that politicians had the power to lower food prices.”

The U of I economists found nearly 75 percent of self-identified Republicans thought that only Republicans could lower food prices, and slightly less, but about 61 percent of Democrats thought that only Democrats could lower food prices.

Independent or other participants, so people who don't identify with one of those major parties, were more pessimistic about the idea. Thirty percent think politicians cannot lower food prices and about 46 percent say if they can, it would require bipartisan support.

The survey does not speak to the actual ability of politicians to lower food prices but only to whether or not consumers believe the promises.