Freakonomics Radio 412. What Happens When Everyone Stays Home to Eat?
Apr 9, 2020
Jason Lusk, an agricultural economist at Purdue University, and Doug Baker from the Food Marketing Institute dive into the upheaval in the food supply system caused by COVID-19. They discuss the surge in demand for locally sourced meats and the challenges small farms faced. Anecdotes highlight the pandemic's impact on grocery shopping behaviors, with shifts to online shopping and changes in purchasing patterns from dining out to stocking up. The conversation also touches on the vulnerabilities in the food supply chain and the urgent issue of food insecurity.
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Shift in Food Consumption
- The pandemic shifted food consumption from restaurants to homes, leading to increased grocery shopping.
- People are buying more due to inexperience, fear, and herd mentality.
Meat Stockpiling
- Despite meat's perishability and cost, people stockpiled it during the pandemic.
- This is driven by a desire for familiar comforts during uncertain times.
Empty Meat Shelves
- Jason Lusk was surprised to see empty meat shelves in his local grocery store.
- This observation prompted his reflection on consumer behavior during a crisis.