[Jamie79SC]

On the contrary Art. If you regulate gas prices (by moral imperative or by law), you limit the amount of resources that will be brought to bear in relieving the shortage that caused the high price to begin with.

Hoarding fouls up this formula temporarily (fortunately, people can generally only store the gas that fits in their gas tanks), but eventually, the lure of high prices brings in more product and the market returns to its pre-event status. If you keep prices low despite increased transportation costs and increased product costs (to the dealer), there isn’t as much of an incentive to bring in more product. Ergo: gas lines.

Now, wanting to keep the good will of your customers after the event might moderate the instinct to raise prices too much, but don't bet on that ;-)