It should be remembered that in many retail outlets "price for cash" discounts mean discounts for non-credit card transactions, thus saving 2.5% credit card charges for the retailer.
Yep - that's true. But it wasn't really the retail world I was thinking about. I was thinking more about the cases whereby the householder colludes with the small tradesman to defraud the taxman by agreeing a 'price for cash'.
What's Labour's official line on laissez faire capitalism these days?
Well, you could always trawl through the [broken link removed] if you have a few hours to kill. I haven't read it all, but it is generally supportive of commercial activity, e.g.
- Tackle the cost of insurance, which is choking small business, by promoting competition in the insurance sector, reducing the cost of claims, and taking measures to reduce legal costs.
- Examine ways to facilitate simpler reporting requirements to state agencies.
- Promote ways of encouraging better use of information technology, particularly among SMEs and the traditional sectors, particularly through support for training
- We will increase the small gains allowance for a married couple to €5,000 per year, but thereafter capital gains will be taxed on the same basis as income. The existing full exemption for the family home will be fully protected and employee share ownership schemes will be exempted.
though I'm sure some of the rampant capitalists might not like the proposed increased supports for consumers, employees, regulators etc.