Editorial – Parasites

Like parasites, they live off others, causing minor infections or serious illnesses. Middlemen disrupt several sectors in Morocco, distorting the free play of supply and demand. They were blamed for the surge in prices of sheep, fruit, vegetables, and other products. And these middlemen are at it again with tickets for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), sold on the black market at inflated prices. They will stop at nothing, even if it means spoiling the party.
At a time when many spectators are looking for tickets to watch their national teams play in the stadium, some black-market middlemen, who purchased them on the Confederation of African Football (CAF) website at “fair” prices, are reselling them at surreal prices. The authorities have already arrested some of those involved. But the problem runs much deeper.
Beyond the ethical aspects, this is one of the evils that plague our economy, already riddled with informality. This phenomenon, already familiar during major national championship matches, is not solely a consequence of the strong enthusiasm for soccer. Above all, it reveals regulatory and institutional weaknesses.
Middlemen take advantage of the vacuum and stifle the market to create scarcity and profit from a highly lucrative niche. Ultimately, it is middlemen who are unproductive and capture a disproportionate share of the value created. That is why the government must act quickly and decisively to cut off oxygen to the parasites and restore confidence.
If no action is taken, the phenomenon is likely to grow, reinforcing the idea that anything can be bought, but at a premium. This battle over tickets, far from being anecdotal, is a new test of the authorities’ ability to regain control in the face of the hegemony of middlemen, and not just in soccer.