Editorial – Fear is “filling up”!

It was predictable. The first fuel price hikes in the wake of the war in the Middle East took place earlier this week. A few hours before these increases took effect, huge lines were seen at various gas stations. The same was true at grocery stores, where many people were trying to secure their “own strategic stockpiles” by “stockpiling” butane gas cylinders.
In fact, in this rush for fuel, it is fear that is filling up the tanks! A phenomenon that may seem irrational, but one that sociologists have extensively examined and explained. It is linked to what energy represents for modern humans. This relationship is practically invisible in times of abundance, but becomes glaringly obvious as soon as its availability is threatened. And in the face of uncertainty, it is easier to succumb to the temptation of “defensive rationality”: It is better to buy today than to risk not being able to find any tomorrow. A logical line of reasoning, taken individually. But collectively, the effect is the opposite, and the fear of scarcity causes a real shortage.
It is the Government’s responsibility to keep citizens regularly informed about how the situation is evolving. Citizens need to know—and to see—that the authorities are monitoring stock levels and the behavior of distributors, and that they have mechanisms in place to intervene… Because, in these times of uncertainty, the primary resource to safeguard is not only fuel, but also the trust of citizens, the first line of defense against the fear that the protective state might fail.