Davood Goudarzi, Deputy for Urban Services and Environment of the Mayor of Tehran, highlighted the importance of people's livelihoods in the city and stated: "A city is not just a collection of streets and buildings; it is a place where people live." He emphasized that the pressure of living costs, especially the rising prices of essential goods, has affected households' purchasing power, making it a priority for urban management.
The 'Zero Inflation' Plan and Its Goals
Goudarzi stated that macroeconomic policymaking is the responsibility of the government, adding that the Tehran Municipality also has capacities that can be used to reduce the cost of living for people. Thus, the 'Zero Inflation' plan has been developed; an effort to create better conditions for citizens' livelihoods. In the first phase of this plan, 12 essential goods such as rice, meat, and oil will be offered at fixed prices for six months.
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Better Planning for Households
The significance of this plan lies not only in stabilizing prices but also in creating the ability for households to plan. Families can better plan their income and expenses with fixed prices, reducing the psychological and economic pressure caused by price fluctuations. Additionally, each household's share will be determined based on its number of members to ensure equity in access to goods.
Goudarzi continued that to achieve sustainable results, it is necessary to move beyond price stabilization. Eliminating unnecessary intermediaries and moving towards direct purchases from producers are other goals of this plan. The Tehran Municipality will utilize the capacities of fruit and vegetable markets and Shahrvand stores to reduce price gaps and provide goods to citizens.
50% Reduction in Trade Profit
Another aspect of the 'Zero Inflation' plan is a 50% reduction in trade profit on over 18,000 items in Shahrvand stores. This measure allows citizens to benefit from reasonable prices, and the return of profit amounts to citizens' wallets will create direct benefits for buyers.
Goudarzi also announced the establishment of direct supply centers in 7 regions of Tehran, allowing producers to offer their products to the market without intermediaries. This initiative not only provides producers with market access but also shortens and clarifies the purchasing path for consumers.
Monitoring and Transparency in Implementation
According to Goudarzi, the success of this plan requires precise monitoring of supply, distribution levels, and selling prices. The use of the Shahrzad system will help register and monitor this process, providing greater transparency in the implementation of the plan. With the increase in the number of supply centers from the current 108 to over 200, easy access to goods for the public will be ensured.
Goudarzi concluded that making life cheaper in Tehran is a multi-dimensional project that must progress on various fronts, including reducing the cost of access to goods, eliminating unnecessary intermediaries, and supporting producers. The 'Zero Inflation' plan cannot instantly solve the structural problems of the country's economy, but it can alleviate some of the pressures of living costs and bring about an experience of cooperation between urban management and the people.
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