5 ms·

Price-gouging would correct the toilet paper hoarding problem.

bob1029 7y ago
Allowing prices to directly track available inventory seems like an excellent approach. The problem will self-correct very quickly as 4-packs of toilet paper begin to exceed $20. As inventory is replenished, prices could begin to drop again. Yes - this sucks for someone who really wanted toilet paper that day, but at the same time it ensures more conscientious spending where absolutely required. I usually don't check prices when I shop for groceries, but if TP was $20 per roll id probably actively decide to not buy any that day. Having this kind of damping from a price-demand perspective could really help to stabilize the availability of goods in retail environments. I can understand how customers might not like this, but if situations are dire, I think we should consider at least being able to throw some sort of switch to enable this mode of operation during emergencies.
- kevingadd 7y ago
  "actively decide not to buy any that day" and not wipe your rear end after using the toilet? If you're out of paper towels or soap and the cost is 50x the usual you're just gonna not wash your hands? Think through the consequences here. Not everyone can afford to stockpile stuff like this in advance, some people live paycheck-to-paycheck. I've got a couple weeks of paper products in reserve typically, not 2 months worth - and if the timing is bad I might be down to a week's supply. Thankfully in this case I restocked just before things got bad but if this lasts I'll have to deal with shortages just like everyone else. I'm actually out of hand soap refills...
  - Noumenon72 7y ago
    Are you familiar with marginal analysis from economics? This is how markets work for everything. You are considering the one person with no TP, paper towels, or soap -- that is the person who will not be dissuaded from buying at any price. But there is always one person right on the edge of buying at the current price -- one who has a single roll left and can stretch it, or one who can just poop at work, or one who grew up wiping with corncobs and always thought of TP as a luxury anyway. As the price goes up, those people drop out one by one. It is those marginal consumers, not the one who needs TP the most, who are price sensitive. This ensures that the person with no TP, paper towels, or soap is always able to get the TP that they need now. Even if there's only one roll left. The price may have to rise to $100 a roll to distinguish between them and the next-most-marginal consumer (who also has no TP, paper towels, or soap, but is willing to hold their poop for a day to save $100). That's the most efficient outcome and markets are great at finding it.

Allowing prices to directly track available inventory seems like an excellent approach. The problem will self-correct very quickly as 4-packs of toilet paper begin to exceed $20. As inventory is replenished, prices could begin to drop again. Yes - this sucks for someone who really wanted toilet paper that day, but at the same time it ensures more conscientious spending where absolutely required. I usually don't check prices when I shop for groceries, but if TP was $20 per roll id probably actively decide to not buy any that day. Having this kind of damping from a price-demand perspective could really help to stabilize the availability of goods in retail environments. I can understand how customers might not like this, but if situations are dire, I think we should consider at least being able to throw some sort of switch to enable this mode of operation during emergencies.

kevingadd 7y ago
"actively decide not to buy any that day" and not wipe your rear end after using the toilet? If you're out of paper towels or soap and the cost is 50x the usual you're just gonna not wash your hands? Think through the consequences here. Not everyone can afford to stockpile stuff like this in advance, some people live paycheck-to-paycheck. I've got a couple weeks of paper products in reserve typically, not 2 months worth - and if the timing is bad I might be down to a week's supply. Thankfully in this case I restocked just before things got bad but if this lasts I'll have to deal with shortages just like everyone else. I'm actually out of hand soap refills...
- Noumenon72 7y ago
  Are you familiar with marginal analysis from economics? This is how markets work for everything. You are considering the one person with no TP, paper towels, or soap -- that is the person who will not be dissuaded from buying at any price. But there is always one person right on the edge of buying at the current price -- one who has a single roll left and can stretch it, or one who can just poop at work, or one who grew up wiping with corncobs and always thought of TP as a luxury anyway. As the price goes up, those people drop out one by one. It is those marginal consumers, not the one who needs TP the most, who are price sensitive. This ensures that the person with no TP, paper towels, or soap is always able to get the TP that they need now. Even if there's only one roll left. The price may have to rise to $100 a roll to distinguish between them and the next-most-marginal consumer (who also has no TP, paper towels, or soap, but is willing to hold their poop for a day to save $100). That's the most efficient outcome and markets are great at finding it.