Wizard Economics

[tex23236]

No: HPFGUIDX 33991

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "pippin_999" <foxmoth at q...> wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at y..., Alexander <lav at t...> wrote:
> >   The only trouble that still remains is the foodstuff and
> > fabrics. They are still most likely made by muggles and sold
> > to Wizards for _muggle_ prices. But then they should be
> > really expensive!
> > 
> >   They are not.

It's hard to say, really. Whether Muggle goods are expensive or not
depends on the exchange rate between Muggle and Wizard money.
That, in turn depends on trade. We see one souce of Muggle money
for the wizards -- Hermione's parents, paying her school expenses. 
Are there other sources of Muggle money? We don't know.  In the 
other direction, we see Wizards paying Muggle money for camp
sites at the Quiddich World Cup.  So, tuition for Muggle-borns vs.
Muggle campsites for Wizards is all we see.

We have a BIG trade barrier in that the existance of the Wizard 
world is a secret from the Muggles. (other than Muggle parents of
Hogwarts students. So, for trade, we need at least one Muggle who 
knows about wizards, probably many more.


> >   What have we got? That there ARE wizards who are conjuring
> > all that wheat, salt and everything?

I'm not sure conjured food would work in the Potterverse. 
Conjured stuff isn't permanant. OTOH, it would be calorie-free.

Tex