[joe_the_user]

Correct me if I'm wrong, it seems like in the modern economy you have a situation where for many companies, most spending decisions are made long term, on the principle of what promises profits long term, regardless of immediate factor and with the perspective not overcompensating.

This has all sorts of bizarre consequences. In the middle of the PPE shortage - hospitals prevented their employees from buying PPEs themselves but would still only buy PPEs at the lowest price with a long term contract. And you had the Texas company that loudly proclaimed they couldn't sell their PPEs but they also only sold by long term contract. And this was all with people dying.

It's easy to see how manufacturer isn't going to be adding capacity for a puny short-term shortage.