Today, I thought it would be interesting to think about behaviour in the current context. The papers have been full of stories of people profiteering from COVID-19. See for example here and here.
Authorities are looking at enforcing regulation, including competition rules. But it’s not just smaller actors seeking to flog handwash or toilet rolls at inflated prices (and perhaps shaming is the best tool against this kind of behaviour?): asset and hedge fund managers and those who profit from them are also doing well out of short positions (a bet that a company’s stock price will fall). See for example.
There has also been some evidence of ‘nudge’ in action, with Government trying to work out how best to make the public comply with anti-virus-spreading measures, including moral appeals; advertising; and threats of tougher measures to come. Though it’s likely that tougher social controls may follow if we do not comply.
© Natasha Mulvihill and Criminology Tales, 2020.
Criminology Tales 
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