I expect any private business that implemented surge pricing on things like food without government backing would face serious repercussions—social and legal. Most people have no understanding of, or interest in, economics, and hate surge pricing, and see at as price gouging. Being in some sense wrong about it is irrelevant—the accusations, and public pressure, and possible legal defense costs if the gouging accusations make it that far, would get most businesses to back down.
Also: not everyone has much choice about when they shop. I know at my local supermarkets the residents of nearby assisted living facilities and senior centers get bussed in once or twice a week at fixed times—a vulnerable population on fixed incomes. They, as well as people working multiple jobs juggling child care and public transit schedules, have the least choice and the least spare resources to pay higher prices.
That said, I think free delivery (or at least curbside pickup) will be commonplace long before the next pandemic. I doubt Amazon will stop with just Whole Foods for groceries, and others will need to follow suit. Covid is already accelerating this trend.
The owner of a shop has freedom to have limited or extended openness times? And I think anti-surge pricing in the form of happy hours is already a thing.
I think the bigger issues is that there is no private motive to get the public good. Customers would need to actually pay more for less-infectious experience like they pay more for prime time clubbing in order for there to be a private motive.
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The beauty of this is that it doesn’t have to be the government implementing surge pricing. It can be the store owner etc.
I expect any private business that implemented surge pricing on things like food without government backing would face serious repercussions—social and legal. Most people have no understanding of, or interest in, economics, and hate surge pricing, and see at as price gouging. Being in some sense wrong about it is irrelevant—the accusations, and public pressure, and possible legal defense costs if the gouging accusations make it that far, would get most businesses to back down.
Also: not everyone has much choice about when they shop. I know at my local supermarkets the residents of nearby assisted living facilities and senior centers get bussed in once or twice a week at fixed times—a vulnerable population on fixed incomes. They, as well as people working multiple jobs juggling child care and public transit schedules, have the least choice and the least spare resources to pay higher prices.
That said, I think free delivery (or at least curbside pickup) will be commonplace long before the next pandemic. I doubt Amazon will stop with just Whole Foods for groceries, and others will need to follow suit. Covid is already accelerating this trend.
The owner of a shop has freedom to have limited or extended openness times? And I think anti-surge pricing in the form of happy hours is already a thing.
I think the bigger issues is that there is no private motive to get the public good. Customers would need to actually pay more for less-infectious experience like they pay more for prime time clubbing in order for there to be a private motive.
Surcharges to reduce capacity could be non-taxable.