Is it morally wrong to raise prices during natural disasters?

Harvey's aftermath is sure to include — along with health risks and homelessness — calls to legalize price-gouging. It's still morally wrong. read more

Definitely, it is wrong to rise prices during natural disasters but this applies only to stocked commodities. If there is supply-chain problem and cost increase is due to high cost involve therein, there is no wrong in rising prices from business point of view, but the government should step in at this stage to ensure regular supply and stem price-rise or back-marketing. read more

Another factor commonly overlooked by defenders of price gouging is that natural disasters tend to be (1) short-term and (2) not amenable to rapid response by market forces. If there’s no physical way to get a new supply of bottled water into some part of Houston, then allowing unrestrained price increases won’t produce a larger supply. read more

By: Michael Hiltzik / Source: Los Angeles Times / The Dawn News / August 28, 2017 As surely as flooding disasters like Hurrricane Harvey are followed by health concerns and homelessness, they’re followed by calls to legalize price-gouging. read more