Rationally Speaking Podcast cover image

"Price gouging" in emergencies

Rationally Speaking Podcast

CHAPTER

Price Controls on Toilet Paper and Toilet Paper

Toilet paper is something that the rich can hoard. Vaccines, you can't hoard. You're not going to get ten vaccines. So price controls on vaccines may be much more effective than price controls on toilet paper. Similarly, in a tornado, forthcoming tornado, hurricane, people are not going to hoard huge amounts of wood because they won't need it after two days. And so price controls in those cases are less effective. What about the solution of price controls plus rationing, like wat? Wouldn't that help mitigate the hoarding problem?

00:00
Transcript
Play full episode

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts

Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
App store bannerPlay store banner