> I an astute business person, realize that a hurricane is about to hit. So I go to all the hardware stores and buy all the plywood, window covers and potable water. The hardware/grocery stores won't be able to get any more supplies until after the hurricane comes through. I resell the plywood and water for 4-10 times what I paid for it.
There's a couple good responses to this particular scenario.
a) The managers of the hardware stores are also astute business people with access to hurricane forecasts and may charge you more if you buy around the time of a hurricane as they know their supplies are limited.
b) other hurricane profiteers are likely to buy supplies from outside the path of the hurricane and bring them to the damaged areas to sell, if there's money in it. (this one doesn't work so well for a global crisis, but it may encourage people to warehouse goods that might be critical in a crisis)
There's a couple good responses to this particular scenario.
a) The managers of the hardware stores are also astute business people with access to hurricane forecasts and may charge you more if you buy around the time of a hurricane as they know their supplies are limited.
b) other hurricane profiteers are likely to buy supplies from outside the path of the hurricane and bring them to the damaged areas to sell, if there's money in it. (this one doesn't work so well for a global crisis, but it may encourage people to warehouse goods that might be critical in a crisis)