See also: the feds recent hijacking of the covid-test market, in order to start the delivery program. The result was a month of people needing tests, but could

See also: the feds recent hijacking of the covid-test market, in order to start the delivery program. The result was a month of people needing tests, but couldn't find them. While the feds prepared to mail them out 4 at a time to people who, if symptomatic, were likely to be either fully recovered by the time they arrive, or for severe cases, already under medical care. Delivery time of a week means you have to order them before you know you might need them. Being "free", there's a rational reason to order speculatively, even if you don't currently need them. And no cost to reduce momentary demand so that people who do currently need them (enough to go to the trouble to pay for them and get reimbursed by insurance) can get them, as happens with store distribution. Perfect example of a market operating efficiently, where un-needed "do-something" govt intervention creates artifical shortages, distributes irrelevant to current need, while reducing efficiency in both availability (same day vs week+) and quantity (delivered 4 at a time vs getting 1 at the store).