Price Gouging Debates: Lessons from California

This chapter critically examines a political proposal on price gouging in grocery pricing, connecting it to historical events from California's 2001 electricity crisis. It discusses the complexities of price gouging, grocery sector profit margins, and the impact of current inflationary pressures, while contrasting outdated justifications with contemporary economic realities. The chapter also scrutinizes the potential pitfalls of federal anti-price gouging laws and their implications on market behavior during emergencies.