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> Unlikely, as he has no need for it. Are you sure? PPE might be a bad example, but back in March rumours have been circulating in my home country about ultra-

> Unlikely, as he has no need for it. Are you sure? PPE might be a bad example, but back in March rumours have been circulating in my home country about ultra-wealthy "private persons" buying ventilator equipment to be put in their homes. I don't know if those rumors were true, but they very well might have been - those ultra-wealthy used to fly to EU for treatments, but when the borders closed and they were faced with the reality of the medical care system they've built for "commoners"... "Better to buy a ventilator, just for me and for my family. Just in case, you know."

marshray 6y ago
Shortages happen when demand exceeds production capacity, or if prices are artificially capped to make increased production unprofitable. Usually the more of a product is bought, the more get produced. If the world will need more ventilators over the coming months, the best thing is for everyone to buy as many as they can right away. There aren't that many "ultra-wealthy" people who are going to hoard ventilators. Even if they did buy them as an impulse, it would be an unusual scenario for them to sit unused in storage while the local hospital has patients going without them. Even the ultra-wealthy will value their friendly relations with the local ICU doctors more than that box gathering dust in the corner and donations will happen.
sjf 6y ago
I personally know a couple of very wealthy individuals who bought ventilators.
xyzzyz 6y ago
So they bought ventilators. Did hospitals run out of ventilators? No. Did they even get to use the ventilators they bought? No. What's the problem then?
- yakireev 6y ago
  Actually, yes, there was a lack of ventilators in hospitals in my home country at some point. Luckily, not for long, as it's one of the countries which produces them. I can imagine that some of the neighbouring countries had it worse.

marshray 6y ago

Shortages happen when demand exceeds production capacity, or if prices are artificially capped to make increased production unprofitable. Usually the more of a product is bought, the more get produced. If the world will need more ventilators over the coming months, the best thing is for everyone to buy as many as they can right away. There aren't that many "ultra-wealthy" people who are going to hoard ventilators. Even if they did buy them as an impulse, it would be an unusual scenario for them to sit unused in storage while the local hospital has patients going without them. Even the ultra-wealthy will value their friendly relations with the local ICU doctors more than that box gathering dust in the corner and donations will happen.

sjf 6y ago

I personally know a couple of very wealthy individuals who bought ventilators.

xyzzyz 6y ago

So they bought ventilators. Did hospitals run out of ventilators? No. Did they even get to use the ventilators they bought? No. What's the problem then?

yakireev 6y ago
Actually, yes, there was a lack of ventilators in hospitals in my home country at some point. Luckily, not for long, as it's one of the countries which produces them. I can imagine that some of the neighbouring countries had it worse.