Edictum de Maximis Pretiis

…and Diocletian proclaimed his well-known Edictum de Maximis Pretiis, fixing price ceilings for foodstuffs and for goods and services, which could not be exceeded under pain of death. The edict had indifferent results and was scarcely applied, but the inscriptions revealing it have great economic interest.

The renowned Edictum de Maximis Pretiis was issued in 301 ce, fixing wages and establishing maximum prices, so as to prevent inflation, abusive profits, and the exploitation of buyers. About 1,000 articles were enumerated, and violation was punishable by death; severe penalties were exacted of black marketeers.…