For example, a restriction on freedom of contract may also be thought of as a denial of equal treatment. The imposition of wage and price controls in an inflationary economy provides a good case in point.
Inflation spreads unevenly through society.
Certain identifiable groups get newly-created money first and spend it before the market discounts it by raising prices. These people receive the benefit of inflation through a wealth transfer from other persons who do not know it is inflated money they are taking or who cannot do anything about it. The money passes from the favored first recipients through various hands, gradually losing its premium, as prices gradually adjust upward to discount the inflated money. Eventually inflation is fully discounted and recipients of the inflated currency can no longer exploit their less fortunate neighbors. While the secondary holders of this inflated currency may, themselves, enjoy some of the benefits of price or wage controls in their purchases, this will be restricted by shortage.