Theory suggests anticipation of shortages stemming from price regulation can motivate households to stock up more and thereby aggravate the regulation-induced shortage. We test this theory on online searches for two typically store-bought staples: hand-sanitizer and toilet paper. Combining (i)...

Several states have laws that prohibit large increases in prices on consumer good, or “price gouging,” during emergency situations like pandemics. We investigate the impact of such laws on online consumer behavior using data from Google Shopping Trends during the onset of the COVID-19...