Tokyo, Japan

Gothenburg, Sweden

Aftermath of selective panic buying of toilet paper during the 2019–2020 coronavirus pandemic.

Panic buying (alternatively rendered as panic-buying) occurs when consumers buy unusually large amounts of a product in anticipation of, or after, a disaster or perceived disaster, or in anticipation of a large price increase or shortage.

Panic buying is a type of herd behavior.^[1] It is of interest in consumer behavior theory, the broad field of economic study dealing with explanations for "collective action such as fads and fashions, stock market movements, runs on nondurable goods, buying sprees, hoarding, and banking panics."^[2]

Panic-buying can lead to genuine shortages regardless of whether the risk of a shortage is real or perceived; the latter scenario is an example of self-fulfilling prophecy.^[3]

It is those consumers with sufficient disposable income, storage space and private transport, who are able to indulge in panic buying. Typically, those with less available cash, credit, or free time, are disadvantaged by the unethical behavioural panic of others ^[4].

Examples

Panic buying occurred before, during, or following these incidents:

• 1922–1923 German hyperinflation
• 1943 Bengal famine^[5]
• 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis – led to panic buying of canned foods in the United States^[6]
• The 1979–1980 oil crisis led to panic buying of oil, led by Japan.^[7]
• Year 2000 problem – food^[8][9]
• 2001 - panic buying of metals, gold and oil on international commodity markets following the September 11 attacks^[10]
• In January and February 2003, during the SARS outbreak, several rounds of panic buying of various products (including salt, rice, vinegar, vegetable oil, antibiotics, masks, and traditional Chinese medicine) took place in the Chinese province of Guangdong and in neighboring areas such as Hainan and Hong Kong.^[11]
• 2000 and 2005 UK fuel protests^[12][13]
• 2005 Jilin chemical plant explosions – water, food^[14]
• 2008–2013 United States ammunition shortage – Panic buying by gun owners who feared tougher gun control laws under President Barack Obama was one cause of ammunition shortages.^[15][16]
• In September 2013 during the Venezuelan economic crisis, the Venezuelan government temporarily took over the Aragua-based Paper Manufacturing Company toilet paper plant to manage the "production, marketing and distribution" of toilet paper following months of depleted stocks of basic goods—including toilet paper—and foodstuffs, such as rice and cooking oil. Blame for the shortages was placed on "ill-conceived government policies such as price controls on basic goods and tight restrictions on foreign currency" and hoarding.^[17]
• Dakazo – Amid decreased support before the 2013 Venezuelan municipal elections, Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro announced the military occupation of stores on 8 November 2013, proclaiming "Leave nothing on the shelves!"^[18] The announcement of lowered prices sparked looting in multiple cities across Venezuela.^[19] By the end of the Dakazo, many Venezuelan stores were left empty of their goods.^[18] A year later in November 2014, some stores still remained empty following the Dakazo.^[18]
• 2019–2020 coronavirus pandemic – masks, food, bottled water, toilet paper, hand sanitizer and rubbing alcohol.^{[20][21][22][23][24]}

• 
  Shoppers in Mexico City panic buying canned food during the 2009 flu pandemic
• 
  Venezuelans grabbing for items during the Dakazo, an event of the crisis in Venezuela
• 
  Shoppers in London panic buying canned food and toilet paper during the 2019–2020 coronavirus pandemic

See also

• Panic selling

References