Prepping is a very small industry in the United States, with annual spending specifically on “prepping” less than what the government will spend in the time it took me to prepare this episode of the podcast.

The amount of expenditure is an interesting question, as is the purpose and effectiveness of the preparation. However, the mainstream media views preppers as irrational and out of touch with reality. Note, however, that from a scientific point of view, the preparation is rational, effective and completely normal.

I am not a prepping expert or even an expert on the prepping industry. This is not a “how to” episode, nor is it any form of advice. In this episode, I will only focus on preparing for “natural disasters” and not “man-made disasters.”

Man-made disasters do not come from society or nature, but from government. These would include wars, hyperinflation and economic collapse coupled with runaway government spending, debt and print inflation. Even basic government interventions, like forest policy, are known to increase natural disasters. Government-created disasters are worse and last longer than natural disasters and require additional preparations for issues such as domestic production, self-protection, and alternative financing and health care.

Although each natural disaster seems completely random, sent by a malevolent God, it actually follows patterns increasingly known to science, although it is extremely unlikely that any individual event will occur, even within a life. The increasing severity is likely entirely attributable to increased reporting and an increase in population living in dangerous areas.

Why do people prepare? Well, the simple answer is because while the probabilities are low, the cost is also extremely low and the benefits are extremely high.

Costs are extremely low because all of our emergency products are non-perishable or are only semi-perishable. Water, food, medicine, paper goods, disposables, alternative lighting and cooking are all things we should already have on hand, in inventory. Preparing is simply making sure you have all of these, plus an emergency medical kit, flashlight, fire extinguisher, etc.

Preparing for Stage II only adds to these inventories the possibility of longer emergencies. You can do this by starting to purchase some of the identified items in larger sizes in bulk each pay period and potentially save money. This preparation is made even more economical when the vile government inflates the supply of paper money and drives up prices over time. Everything you buy at the store today for sale the price will likely only increase. You can extend your savings by including products like toiletries.

Now, what are the benefits of extremely high preparation? Well, the market economy is so effective at providing everything we need at stable prices that we often make the mistake of equating the market price of a good with the value of a good. In the event of a natural disaster, the supply of certain goods may be interrupted. Other products could regain new importance, such as flashlight batteries. Some goods only seem realize their value in an emergency, like a solar-powered radio, which is otherwise only used for enjoying the outdoors. Preppers usually remember to have all of these types of products on hand.

I’m not saying that people don’t go overboard when it comes to preparation. What I’m saying is that preppers actually save and invest smarter than non-preppers in terms of economic science.

It may also be, in part, a question of taste. Preppers are likely more risk averse and less likely to settle in earthquake zones, river flood zones, etc. Preppers likely also have lower time preferences and are more likely to save and invest, providing the personal and social building blocks of a better society.

Of course, the capitalist process also makes good use of the risk-takers among us as entrepreneurs and even those with money. avant-garde taste for creativity.

Preparing or getting ready is a highly rational activity. During a natural disaster, preparers are much more likely to contribute to problem solving as true “first responders” and much less likely to add to the burden of the disaster itself as so-called victims .