Lowering the prices would encourage businesses to curtail production in order to prevent losses, which would eliminate the surplus.

Falling prices for metals in 1980, combined with environmental problems, forced many of the mines to curtail production.

Strikes might affect output and wily pit owners would sometimes curtail production to keep prices high.

Instead of curtailing production, most firms chose to build up inventories.

A coercive monopoly has very few incentives to keep prices low and may deliberately price gouge consumers by curtailing production.