[tsax]

More blather. Its irrelevant whatever you choose to call the phenomenon. The fundamental problem is scarcity of goods and services. Its a shortage of fuel, water, food and other goods the delivery of which won't be carried out because you have determined that raising prices is morally bad. Prices are a signaling mechanism. You focus only on the nominal price and its supposed "profit-mongering" by the suppliers, but it signals where demand exists and for tankers/suppliers to deliver the goods where the demand is highest. Or you can stand in the street corner calling the suppliers immoral and demand that the cops arrest them for price gouging. Great! But you won't get your ice/fuel/water. Good luck.

[nickzarzycki]

Let me ask you then: do you think that all scarce emergency supplies should be allocated using price (perhaps via auction) during a disaster?