Fear-based consumerism is emptying shelves in the Okanagan and across the province as some people have begun stockpiling goods due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

That91裸聊视频檚 according to Eric Li, a UBC Okanagan researcher who studies market trends and human reactions to them.

Despite assurances from the provincial government that there will be no shortage of goods, Li said 91裸聊视频減anic buying91裸聊视频� is leading to several issues in terms of availability and affordability.

91裸聊视频淗aving five years of stock at home is not reasonable 91裸聊视频� and it might not be ethical,91裸聊视频� he said.

Li recalled a similar panic during Japan91裸聊视频檚 2011 nuclear meltdown in Fukushima. Rampant false rumours spread on social media lauding salt as a cure to radiation poison, Li said. Soon enough, the shelves were empty, much like Okanagan grocery stores are now.

91裸聊视频淚ncidents like this create panic among consumers,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淭hey worry about if all the shops shut down or the supply chain shuts down.91裸聊视频�

That over-consumerism, as Li sees it, is much the same now as it was in Japan91裸聊视频檚 2011 disaster.

The shelves of B.C. grocery stores are being cleared of essential goods: toilet paper, canned foods, cleaning supplies and even meats. Medical supplies have also been hard to get ahold of over the past few months with shops quickly selling out of masks and hand sanitizer.

Social media, with an even stronger grip on people91裸聊视频檚 attention now than in 2011, certainly isn91裸聊视频檛 helping either.

Li said people should think critically about the information 91裸聊视频� and potential misinformation 91裸聊视频� they consume related to COVID-19.

91裸聊视频淎 lot of us who are being greedy have the capability to analyze the reliability of that information,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频橧s that really true? Is that really (in my location)?91裸聊视频�

With the mass-information coming in showing panic and quarantine across the world, it91裸聊视频檚 natural to want to buy a little bit extra but everybody needs to have the opportunity to stock up, said Li.

91裸聊视频淧eople want to protect themselves and that91裸聊视频檚 a very reasonable move,91裸聊视频� said Li. 91裸聊视频淏ut when we talk about extreme overstocking behaviour, that is problematic.91裸聊视频�

And that problem shows itself, Li said, in the emergence of a black market, full of people capitalizing on the chaos, selling toilet paper and other goods at incredibly inflated prices.

This limits availability, resulting in some people not being able to get their hands on a single square of toilet paper.

If grocery stores aren91裸聊视频檛 able to maintain stock, black market items could become a hot commodity, with prices Li estimates could be ten-fold what they are now.

READ MORE: Don91裸聊视频檛 flush disinfecting wipes down the toilet: City of Kelowna

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michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com
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