January 11, 2008 7:42AM 

# Energy Price Controls in China 

By [Jerry Taylor](https://www.cato.org/people/jerry-taylor) 

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From our “never thought I’d live to see the day file,” Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao [announced yesterday ](http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/10/business/worldbusiness/10yuan.html?ex=1357621200&en=f4f30bf505d0627c&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss)that China would freeze energy prices as a means of combating inflation and appeasing public anger over escalating fuel prices. Well, [been there, done that](https://www.cato.org/pubs/pas/pa561.pdf). If past is prologue, don’t expect a happy ending to this story.

##### Related Tags 

[Energy and Environment](https://www.cato.org/research/energy-environment), [Tax and Budget Policy](https://www.cato.org/tax-budget-policy), [China](https://www.cato.org/china) 

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