Price Gouging or Market Forces? Fairness Perceptions of Price Hikes during the Pandemic

Avichai Snir (), Daniel Levy (), Dudi Levy and Haipeng Allan Chen
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Avichai Snir: Bar-Ilan University [Israël]
Dudi Levy: Bar-Ilan University [Israël]
Haipeng Allan Chen: University of Iowa [Iowa City]

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Abstract: We report the results of surveys we conducted in the US and Israel in 2020, a time when many prices increased following the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. To assess respondents' fairness perceptions of price increases, we focus on goods whose prices have increased during the pandemic, including some essential goods. Consistent with the principle of dual entitlement, we find that respondents perceive price increases as fairer if they are due to cost shocks than if they are due to demand shocks. However, we also find large differences across the two populations, as well as across goods.

Keywords: Dual Entitlement; Fairness Perceptions; Consumer Antagonism; COVID-19; Pandemic; Price Level; Price Adjustment; Price Increase; Price Rigidity; Sticky Prices (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hea and nep-reg
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Published in Economics Bulletin, In press

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Related works:
Journal Article: Price Gouging or Market Forces? Fairness Perceptions of Price Hikes during the Pandemic (2025)
Journal Article: Price Gauging or Market Forces? Fairness Perceptions of Price Hikes during the Pandemic (2024)
Working Paper: Price Gouging or Market Forces? Fairness Perceptions of Price Hikes during the Pandemic (2024)
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