I was debating an Austrian a few days ago and he was talking about lower consumption because it's good for the market or makes the currency more valuable or whatever. I don't take gold bugs seriously so forgive me if I butcher the concept. But then I had an epiphany today thinking back on it.

If people lower their consumption for whatever reason, that slows the economy down and reduces competition in the market. The only people who benefit from this are bigger companies that have the ability to withstand a recession or even a depression. Which contradicts the idea that free marketeers talking about competition. Wouldn't more consumption lead to more competition and thus fairer pricing? If businesses are closing because they can't withstand the persistent reduction in consumption and the bigger companies are able to take up their market share that would reduce competition and the prices are less competitive at that point.

Just I'm no economist or anything. I'm legitimately curious about this since it popped in my head.