Venezuela is in crisis. There are shortages of food and medical supplies. The infant mortality rate is rising. Inflation is out of control. According to the Internatonal Monetary Fund, the country's economy has shrunk by 20 percent since 2013.

Cue the gestures of populism. Venezuela's government is targeting retailers in the lead-up to Christmas, forcing them to make their goods cheaper. First, the state forced about 200 stores in Caracas to sell all their inventory at a 30 percent discount. Then it confiscated 3.8 million toys from one company, alleging that they were marked to be sold at an illegal markup. Those toys will be distributed in low-income neighborhoods for below-market prices, the country's consumer protection agency Sundde said.

#EnFotos Alrededor de 4 Millones de juguetes acaparados por Kreisel en Caracas. #SunddeJuntoAlPueblo@NicolasMaduropic.twitter.com/rpteaGSzS7

— Sundde (@sundde_ve) December 11, 2016

While populism is apparently on the rise in Europe and the US, it's retreating in Latin America. Venezuelans are happy to line up for cheap goods, but they're under no illusions. Protesters have called for the removal of President Nicolás Maduro, who replaced Hugo Chávez in 2013. His approval rating fell below 20 percent in November.

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) agreed to cut production starting in January, which should boost oil prices. That, rather than Christmas giveaways, is the way to help Venezuela's struggling citizens and boost Maduro's popularity. Oh, and maybe he could stop withholding food aid as a way to punish dissenting citizens.