Environmental Economics

A higher gas tax isn't a tax increase in Kentucky

Here is another example of state reliance on gas tax revenues ... and a silly recalcitrance to raise taxes, any taxes, any amount as Kentucky politicians pull an all-nighter to agree on a budget (Bridges, gas tax ...): One unresolved iss...

Friedman follows up on the NYT gas tax poll

Yesterday we mentiond the NYTimes gas tax poll, today Tom Friedman writes about it (Who's Afraid of a Gas Tax, $$$): My gut told me this was the case, but it's great to see it confirmed by the latest New York Times/CBS News poll: America...

“Gas Taxes and Oil Subsidies: Time for Reform”

Jeffrey Frankel at Econbrowser: World oil prices have been highly volatile during the last decade. Over the past year they have fallen more than 50%. Should we root for prices to go up, down, or stay the same? The economic effects of...

Solution to the cigarette tax differential problem

I'm always on the lookout for reasons to advocate a gas tax. Sometimes it is a reach, sometimes it is not. Today, it is a reach: a gas tax can help reduce smoking.

Tom Friedman's gas tax

Tom Friedman, in his NYTimes column from 9/21 (Bush's Waterlogged Halo, $$$), says:Imagine - I know it is a stretch - that the president announced tomorrow that he wanted an immediate 50-cents-a-gallon gasoline tax - the "American Renewa...

Social cost of gasoline

An env-econ reader asks about a monetary estimate of the social costs of gasoline. I became excited about developing what is almost sure to be a somewhat bogus back-of-the-envelope estimate and using it as a front to pursue the gas tax p...

Mileage tax

From Mike Moffat at economics.about.com:Oregon's Mileage Tax: A Truly Bad Idea I try not to editorialize when I comment on public policy proposals. I try to give my readers the pros and cons of any potential new law and leave it up to t...

Gas Fees versus Gas Taxes

I had the following conversation at the local Blockbuster recently:Employee: This is due back on Friday, but you know we don't have late fees anymore. Me: So what happens if I bring it back after Friday? Employee: You will be assess...

All politicians are idiots and other obvious thoughts on high gas prices

I'm angry. I can't believe we're right back where we were a year ago. Gas prices are rising and Congress is trying to do something about it. Eighty-two Democrats and 3 Republicans in the House have proposed the Federal Price Gouging P...

A (the) liberty econ blog in favor of a higher gas tax

Marginal Revolution, with a free market bent, has over 4 million served, er, hits. Here is my most fav post (What about the budget?):Megan McArdle (what do you call her when Jane links to Megan? And can they have an infinite regress?) a...