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> am I right that you... support the fuel efficiency regulations passed in the 70's and 90's No I would prefer a carbon tax charged per vehicle based on miles
by grandalf 9y ago
> am I right that you... support the fuel efficiency regulations passed in the 70's and 90's
No I would prefer a carbon tax charged per vehicle based on miles driven per year and the pollution emitted from the vehicle.
> If someone expert told you that similar regulation passed today would have a similar effect, would you support it?
What effect did it have? Do you think automakers would have continued to use 1960s era engines?
The question to be asked is not whether I support it but whether a different policy might have been far better. I think a tax would have had a far less distortionary effect on the economy and potentially a more beneficial effect on the environment.
- ajross 9y ago> What effect did it have? I genuinely don't understand how a technical person can look at the graph in the linked article and ask that question. This is just willful disbelief..
- nindalf 9y agoSounds great but it's a regressive tax when you consider that it disincentivizes people actually using their cars. Once they've bought their new, fuel efficient car you want them to drive around and create economic value. This tax will ensure that less value is created. Your "far better" proposal is potentially worse.
- grandalf 9y agoCarbon equates to gallons of gas used, so from an environmental perspective we'd want to reduce unnecessary use to reduce the carbon impact.