---
entity_slug: permanent_market_price_enhancements
evaluator: null
evaluated_at: '2026-02-23T06:05:18.214690'
overall_score: 4.2
scores:
- name: definition_precision
  value: 4.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: The definition clearly distinguishes permanent price enhancements from
    temporary fluctuations and identifies two distinct causes (natural and artificial).
    The concept captures a specific economic phenomenon where market prices remain
    consistently above natural prices for extended periods.
- name: source_grounding
  value: 5.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: This entity is directly grounded in Smith's discussion in Book I, Chapter
    7, where he explicitly contrasts temporary market price fluctuations with sustained
    deviations caused by monopolies and unique natural conditions. The examples and
    timeframe ("many years or even centuries") align with Smith's analysis.
- name: domain_placement
  value: 5.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: The "Regulation" domain assignment is appropriate since the entity encompasses
    both artificial regulatory interventions (monopolies) and natural regulatory constraints
    (unique soil conditions) that systematically affect market pricing mechanisms.
    This fits well within regulatory economic analysis.
- name: vsm_relevance
  value: 3.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: This entity has moderate VSM relevance, primarily mapping to S4 (intelligence/environmental
    adaptation) as it represents how economic systems respond to persistent environmental
    constraints or regulatory structures. However, it's somewhat abstract and doesn't
    clearly align with operational VSM functions.
- name: explanatory_value
  value: 4.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: "The entity provides strong explanatory value by identifying a key structural\
    \ mechanism in Smith's price theory\u2014how certain conditions can systematically\
    \ and permanently distort the relationship between market and natural prices.\
    \ This illuminates an important distinction in economic dynamics beyond surface\
    \ price movements."
---

# Evaluation: Permanent Market Price Enhancements

## definition_precision — 4.0 / 5.0

The definition clearly distinguishes permanent price enhancements from temporary fluctuations and identifies two distinct causes (natural and artificial). The concept captures a specific economic phenomenon where market prices remain consistently above natural prices for extended periods.

## source_grounding — 5.0 / 5.0

This entity is directly grounded in Smith's discussion in Book I, Chapter 7, where he explicitly contrasts temporary market price fluctuations with sustained deviations caused by monopolies and unique natural conditions. The examples and timeframe ("many years or even centuries") align with Smith's analysis.

## domain_placement — 5.0 / 5.0

The "Regulation" domain assignment is appropriate since the entity encompasses both artificial regulatory interventions (monopolies) and natural regulatory constraints (unique soil conditions) that systematically affect market pricing mechanisms. This fits well within regulatory economic analysis.

## vsm_relevance — 3.0 / 5.0

This entity has moderate VSM relevance, primarily mapping to S4 (intelligence/environmental adaptation) as it represents how economic systems respond to persistent environmental constraints or regulatory structures. However, it's somewhat abstract and doesn't clearly align with operational VSM functions.

## explanatory_value — 4.0 / 5.0

The entity provides strong explanatory value by identifying a key structural mechanism in Smith's price theory—how certain conditions can systematically and permanently distort the relationship between market and natural prices. This illuminates an important distinction in economic dynamics beyond surface price movements.
