What, if anything, is wrong with price gouging? Its defenders argue that it increases supply of scarce necessities; critics argue that it is exploitative, inequitable and vicious. In this paper, I argue for its moral wrongness and legal prohibition, without relying on charges of exploitation, inequity or poor character. What is fundamentally wrong with price gouging is that it violates a duty of easy rescue. While legal enforcement of such duties is controversial, a special case can be made for their legal enforcement in this context. This account distinguishes, morally, price gouging by corporations from that of individual entrepreneurs.

中文翻译：

---

哄抬物价与易救助义务

哄抬物价有什么问题（如果有的话）？它的捍卫者认为它增加了稀缺必需品的供应；批评者认为它是剥削性的、不公平的和恶毒的。在本文中，我不依赖剥削、不公平或不良品格的指控，为它的道德错误和法律禁止进行论证。哄抬物价的根本错误在于它违反了轻松救助的义务。尽管此类职责的法律执行存在争议，但在这种情况下可以对其法律执行进行特殊处理。这种说法在道德上将公司的价格欺诈与个体企业家的价格欺诈区分开来。