Im too young to remember pre-crisis age (before 2008) so I dont know if its new “normal” on market. Its a scheme that takes advantage of rapidly changing prices of everything.
Typical cycle Im talking about:
- Shop prices good at market price.
- *severe crisis*
- Market price rises to historic level never seen before
- Shop adjusts price to market level
- *crisis ends*
- Market price drops to normal
- Shop: OMFG -60% DISCOUNT!!!
- Any news site these days spams “articles” how every shop has same discounted item from any brand
This rages me. Worst thing is politicians use the same pattern. When war in Ukraine will end is unknown, but certain is that politicians that will be ruling will say cheap gas is their credit. Then they will point at party that was ruling before them and say “Look at these bastards, THEY made gas expensive and WE made it cheap”.
Same situation when games sequel is released. They advertise sequel, wait till people see its moneygrab and forget about. People forget and shops sell previous version at huge discount.
Check out The Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein.
It’s all about how those in power, like big governments and corporations, take advantage of chaotic situations like natural disasters or political turmoil – to push their agendas. They use these shocks and their subsequent ‘recoveries’ to bulldoze through policies that consolidate wealth while forcing systems to reform in their image.
I used the same playbook to steamroll a bunch of organizational changes during wave one of COVID.
Didn’t consolidate any wealth though, just improved scheduling flexibility and reduced differed maintenance.
Never let a good crisis go to waste
To be fair, you could see the push for WFH as a part of the same paradigm.
Added to my reading list, thank you for the recommendation!
Also somewhat related, Manufacturing Consent by Chomsky and Herman. It shows the role of the media in creating a narrative to skew public opinion regardless of facts. It’s terrifying and fascinating.