New Delhi, Dec. 15 -- A simple market rule-of-thumb has long taken hold. If demand for something vastly exceeds supply, price it-so that those willing to pay or outbid others get the privilege. This may have motivated ticket prices ranging from Rs.3,800 to Rs.11,800, as reported, for a seat in Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium to catch a glimpse on Saturday of star footballer Lionel Messi.

Scarcity economics, however, can go wrong if it's divorced from human behaviour. While an estimated 60,000 fans packed the stadium, Messi wasn't there to play the "beautiful game." All that the crowd got to see on the pitch was a swarm of people around the Argentine player.

Chaos ensued as irate fans went on a rampage. While nothing justifies such a respons...