The McRib, like bad music, does not appear on any predictable schedule - it isn't like a Shamrock Shake, coinciding with a holiday about persistent alcoholism. So why does it keep appearing?
Willy Staley at The Awl says the appearance of the McRib isn't random marketing at all - it's an arbitrage strategy. Basically, it seems McDonald's may be acting as a 'market maker' does in a stock; buying when no one else will buy. If the price of pork gets low, McDonald's buys it up and sells sandwiches. And McDonald's is big, they can shape a commodities market all by themselves. Staley even made a chart. If it's in a chart, it has to be true.

I hope these McDonald's introduce a McScience product; I could use a big trampoline for the office so the extra money could come in handy.
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