Bill Overview
Title: Disaster and Emergency Pricing Abuse Prevention Act
Description: This bill makes it unlawful to sell, or offer for sale, an essential good or service at an unconscionably excessive price during, or in anticipation of, a natural disaster, pandemic, or state of emergency.
Sponsors: Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5]
Target Audience
Population: All individuals globally
Estimated Size: 334000000
- Natural disasters, pandemics, and states of emergency can affect any part of the world, so all people globally could potentially be impacted by such events and the protection offered by this bill.
- Essential goods and services include food, water, healthcare products, gasoline, and emergency services, which are universally needed by all humans.
- All individuals during emergencies are at risk of price gouging and could benefit from the enforcement of this legislation.
Reasoning
- The Disaster and Emergency Pricing Abuse Prevention Act targets situations where essential goods and services might be priced excessively during emergencies.
- Natural disasters, pandemics, and other emergencies commonly affect certain parts of the US, such as hurricane-prone or wildfire-prone areas, necessitating price regulation.
- While the policy potentially impacts all residents, those living in disaster-prone areas are more likely to experience significant changes in wellbeing scores due to reduced price gouging.
- The impact's duration is expected to vary, generally being more pronounced in the initial years as the policy establishes its enforcement mechanisms.
- The $50 million year 1 budget is allocated mainly toward enforcement and public awareness campaigns.
- Given the widespread potential reach but budget constraints, it is important to simulate effects across diverse individuals considering geographic, socioeconomic, and demographic diversity.
- The policy will likely have high immediate impact on individuals directly affected by price gouging during disasters, while the broader population might experience lower immediate impact but gain a sense of security knowing protections are in place.
Simulated Interviews
Elementary School Teacher (Miami, FL)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I worry about price gouging every hurricane season—it's great that there might be more regulation now.
- Hopefully, this will make essentials more affordable when they're needed most.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Software Developer (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm glad to see some steps taken to combat price gouging.
- Even tech folks like me can get caught off guard by surprise price hikes during emergencies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Nurse (Houston, TX)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Healthcare workers need essential goods at fair prices during emergencies.
- This act should help stabilize costs for critical supplies in hospitals.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Freelance Photographer (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 38 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I often face unplanned expenses during disasters when prices spike.
- This policy seems promising for people like me who are on the ground during emergencies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Retired Engineer (New Orleans, LA)
Age: 70 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's good to know that during the next flood, prices might not skyrocket.
- As someone on a fixed income, emergency price stabilization is very reassuring.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
Graduate Student (Boston, MA)
Age: 25 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I support measures against price gouging because students like me can't always afford sudden price hikes.
- This policy might help us budget better during emergencies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Small Business Owner (Seattle, WA)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm hesitant about more regulation but agree that price gouging needs to be controlled.
- Hopefully, this won't be too taxing on small business operations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Retired Teacher (Kansas City, MO)
Age: 61 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Price stability during emergencies is essential for retirees like me.
- This policy gives us more peace of mind when it comes to budgeting.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Emergency Response Coordinator (Portland, OR)
Age: 33 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- With more regulations on pricing, my job dealing with emergencies might run smoother.
- Correct pricing means deliveries and operations can be more predictable.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Retail Worker (Chicago, IL)
Age: 21 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 16/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Too often, prices spike right when I need essentials during emergencies.
- Regulating these prices brings relief during financially tight periods.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $50000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $75000000)
Year 2: $50000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $75000000)
Year 3: $50000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $75000000)
Year 5: $50000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $75000000)
Year 10: $50000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $75000000)
Year 100: $50000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $75000000)
Key Considerations
- The ability of federal agencies to effectively enforce the law will influence the policy's success.
- Costs may fluctuate depending on the frequency and severity of declared emergencies.
- Public awareness campaigns will be crucial to ensure compliance and protection under the Act.