Profit from Covid-19 profiteers, with the help of regular market forces

THE spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus has led to a severe global shortage of face masks as panicked consumers stockpile them. Understandably, the Singapore government has decided to clamp down on the many profiteers locally selling masks at unusually high prices. Minister Chan Chun Sing recently announced that the government would come down hard on profiteers who charge unreasonable prices, including through a "government price controller".

The government's aim is praiseworthy, especially if one considers the many who struggle to make ends m…

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