Hording supplies out of fear of a coronavirus-caused shortage actually creates the shortage that threatens everyone.
The coronavirus panic buying of water, toilet paper and cleaning supplies vividly illustrates the “tragedy of the commons,” in which people behave in their own self-interest by depleting shared resources.cautioning about a pandemic panic encourages reason over irrationality and correctly criticizes coronavirus scams such as “miracle cures” promoted by televangelists.
The fear of a supply shortage creates a shortage. People need to use more common sense and not hoard supplies that could be used by others now.Coronavirus is not the driver sending people to stock up on toilet paper. It pays to take a 10,000-foot view of this disaster.
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