Assorted links XII
This paper studies the equilibrium determination of the number of political jurisdictions […] . We focus on the trade off between the benefits of large jurisdictions in terms of economies of scale and the costs of heterogeneity of large and diverse populations.
The model they use is grievously unrealistic, but it’s a question I’d long been idly interested in.
Fifty-eight percent of those who think climate change is happening support a carbon tax, while 62 percent of those who do not accept that climate change is taking place oppose a carbon tax.
Support for a carbon tax is generally higher once told how the funds would be used.
Provides some extra context on Gas taxes for thee, but not for me.
Any time we charge a positive price for anything, the cost of paying that price is a higher burden on the poor than it is on the rich. It takes a special combination of myopia and tunnel vision to look at the prospect of congestion pricing anything other than a minor blip on a system of transportation finance that is systematically unfair to the poor and those who don’t own (or can’t afford) car.
Good rebuttal to a common objection to Pigouvian taxes as discussed here.