Lincicome questions the economic importance of alleged egg-price coordination
Scott LincicomeCato Institute trade and economics researcher
Scott Lincicome says the collapse in egg prices fits a standard supply-and-demand framework and that any illegal behavior was not economically important.
“That doesn’t mean necessarily that there wasn’t illegal behavior going on, but not economically important behavior.”
Reporting
Where this statement fits
Did Cal-Maine and other egg producers manipulate egg-price benchmarks?
The Justice Department and 17 states allege that major egg producers coordinated bids to inflate Urner Barry price quotations. Cal-Maine denies wrongdoing and says its communications did not affect egg prices. The filed complaint and proposed settlement do not resolve the disputed facts by trial.
Source and context
Reporting
About this source
POLITICO published this interview on October 18; it identifies the interview as taking place in the fall.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
In POLITICO's October 18 article, Lincicome says the federal case does not undermine his think tank's earlier skepticism that high egg profits proved a conspiracy. He says egg prices have collapsed almost entirely in line with a standard supply-and-demand framework.
After the quotation
The article then turns to a broader divide between lawyers focused on monopoly behavior and economists who rely on familiar explanations for price changes.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
Lincicome allows that unlawful coordination may have occurred but minimizes its economic significance.
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“The Department of Justice found that corporations like Cal-Maine engaged in price gouging of eggs - but they're giving them a slap on the wrist. Tell the DOJ that their proposed settlement is not enough, and corporate price gougers deserve consequences:”Read statement
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The Dispute Index. "Lincicome questions the economic importance of alleged egg-price coordination". First published: 2026-10-20. Last updated: 2026-10-20. https://disputeindex.com/events/6185-scott-lincicome-says-the-collapse-in-egg-prices