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.

That害羞草研究所檚 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 害羞草研究所減anic buying害羞草研究所� is leading to several issues in terms of availability and affordability.

害羞草研究所淗aving five years of stock at home is not reasonable 害羞草研究所� and it might not be ethical,害羞草研究所� he said.

Li recalled a similar panic during Japan害羞草研究所檚 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.

害羞草研究所淚ncidents like this create panic among consumers,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淭hey worry about if all the shops shut down or the supply chain shuts down.害羞草研究所�

That over-consumerism, as Li sees it, is much the same now as it was in Japan害羞草研究所檚 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 people害羞草研究所檚 attention now than in 2011, certainly isn害羞草研究所檛 helping either.

Li said people should think critically about the information 害羞草研究所� and potential misinformation 害羞草研究所� they consume related to COVID-19.

害羞草研究所淎 lot of us who are being greedy have the capability to analyze the reliability of that information,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所満π卟菅芯克鶛Is that really true? Is that really (in my location)?害羞草研究所�

With the mass-information coming in showing panic and quarantine across the world, it害羞草研究所檚 natural to want to buy a little bit extra but everybody needs to have the opportunity to stock up, said Li.

害羞草研究所淧eople want to protect themselves and that害羞草研究所檚 a very reasonable move,害羞草研究所� said Li. 害羞草研究所淏ut when we talk about extreme overstocking behaviour, that is problematic.害羞草研究所�

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 aren害羞草研究所檛 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: Don害羞草研究所檛 flush disinfecting wipes down the toilet: City of Kelowna

READ MORE: Kelowna International Airport expects traffic volume to drop by 50 per cent

michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com
Like us on and follow us on .