[lbo-talk] Re: You can't conduct an orchestra with an invisible hand - the problem with carbon taxes

[Gar Lipow]

On 11/28/06, Gar Lipow <the.typo.boy at gmail.com> wrote:
> You can't conduct an orchestra with an invisible hand: The problem
> with carbon taxes
> Gar Lipow at 4:39 PM on 28 Nov 2006
>
> Jason D Scorse agrees with the Reason article arguing that the way to
> phase out fossil fuels is to tax them -- to make their price reflect
> some or all of their social costs (referred to by economists as
> "Pigovian" tax). Fossil fuels will become more expensive, low-carbon
> technology will become competitive, and everybody will do the "happy
> happy joy joy" dance.
>
> Unfortunately, a strategy based mainly on price increases will work
> ineffectively, if at all -- a position for which we have both
> historical evidence and good theoretical grounding. (This is not to
> say that Pigovian taxes have no place, but as a supplementary measure,
> not a primary one.)
>
> You can find the rest at:
> http://gristmill.grist.org/admin/story/2006/11/28/12853/017
On 11/28/06, Gar Lipow <gar.lipow at gmail.com> wrote:
> You can't conduct an orchestra with an invisible hand: The problem
> with carbon taxes
> Gar Lipow at 4:39 PM on 28 Nov 2006
>
> Jason D Scorse agrees with the Reason article arguing that the way to
> phase out fossil fuels is to tax them -- to make their price reflect
> some or all of their social costs (referred to by economists as
> "Pigovian" tax). Fossil fuels will become more expensive, low-carbon
> technology will become competitive, and everybody will do the "happy
> happy joy joy" dance.
>
> Unfortunately, a strategy based mainly on price increases will work
> ineffectively, if at all -- a position for which we have both
> historical evidence and good theoretical grounding. (This is not to
> say that Pigovian taxes have no place, but as a supplementary measure,
> not a primary one.)
>
> You can find the rest at:
> http://gristmill.grist.org/admin/story/2006/11/28/12853/017
>

I messed up the link -sent admin instead of public link:

proper link
http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2006/11/28/12853/017