They didn't jack the prices up, they introduced significant friction to the market. Which means the market for masks bought and sold by individuals is less eff

They didn't jack the prices up, they introduced significant friction to the market. Which means the market for masks bought and sold by individuals is less efficient. This will likely leave more masks for pre-established supply chains, and reduce the incentive for people who aren't part of these supply chains to buy up (or steal!) masks for resale. These are almost all rent-seekers: They aren't going to make more masks, just obtain them wherever they can get them cheaply (e.g. by buying everything from a supermarket that hasn't jacked up prices nor introduced rationing, or from a thief) and resell them for a higher price. This also often happens in circumvention of existing laws against price-gouging.