@irenes@bigzaphod In Bar Association, it is established that the Federation, on behalf of the Bajoran Republic, does not collect rent on the space Quark’s Bar occupies.
Extrapolating from Sisko’s motivations in Emissary, Quark thus appears to be the beneficiary of Federation economic stimulus, and payments for replicated goods would agree neatly with such an arrangement
(this absorption of government subsidy is also of course perfectly on brand for the capitalist, to the contemporary eye)
danilo