New York Gas Lines
In the aftermath of hurricane Sandy, many New York City gas stations are facing a shortage of gasoline. The gas distribution terminals located in Brooklyn and Queens have been damaged by the storm, meaning the stations are receiving less. Because of this, people are worried that they will not be able to get gasoline if they need it at some point in the future due to the limited supply with no reduced demand. To try to stem the flow of gasoline being consumed so quickly, Mayor Bloomberg established a rule that drivers with license plates ending in odd numbers may buy gas on odd numbered days of the month, and drivers with even numbers may buy gas on even days of the month.
The main reason that the gas lines even exist can be attributed to cascades. When a few people know that there is a shortage of gas, the limited source of information is introduced into the system. This starts a cascade, when others see that buying gas is a smart choice based on the choices of those who know that the supply is low, they go to the gas station to buy gas as well. Others see this, and realize that gas must be in low supply based on the demand of people trying to get it as soon as possible, and begin flocking to the stations as well, trying to stock up before they have to go without. This behavior is exactly like what we modeled cascades as in class. A few people have information on something, others see their decision based on this information, and then base their decision mainly on the information of others.
-SV John Wayne