Supply Chain Management in Times of Supply Disruption Risk and Consumer Panic Buying: a Systematic Review

This paper provides a systematic review of supply chain management strategies in the context of supply disruption risk and consumer panic buying. It examines how supply disruptions, triggered by natural disasters, epidemics, or other unforeseen events, lead to consumer panic buying, resulting in substantial fluctuations in demand. The study explores the underlying drivers of consumer panic-buying behavior, including information asymmetry, perception of resource scarcity, social influence, and individual psychological factors like anxiety caused by unknown risks. It further analyzes the multifaceted impact of panic buying on supply chain performance and social welfare, encompassing escalated costs, inventory mismatches, price fluctuations, exacerbation of the bullwhip effect, reduced supply chain efficiency, and loss of consumer welfare. To mitigate these adverse effects, the paper reviews a spectrum of supply chain management strategies, such as flexible inventory management, supply chain elasticity enhancement, dynamic production capacity adjustment, diversified supplier networks, and collaborative interventions by governments and retailers. The findings underscore the intricate interplay between supply chain dynamics and consumer panic-buying behavior, providing valuable insights for developing resilient supply chains.