---Steven Bissell <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> (cut)
>
> >One scheme that has been talked about is the issuing of pollution
> >permits that firms could use to trade on some sort of exchange. The
> >idea is that those firm's that find retooling economical will do so
> >and sell their permits to those that do not. The idea is that the
> >cost of polluting would then be tied to production decisions and the
> >firm's would produce an amount that would be closer to an efficient
> >outcome. This idea is fine in theory, but there are many practical
> >difficulties in its implementation. Clearly determining the
> >"efficient amount of pollution" is probably not going to be agreed
upon.
>
> This idea has also been likened to allowing prisoners to "sell" time
off for
> good behavior. It does not take into account the specific violation.
Should
> a non-violent thief be allowed to "sell" his/her time to a murderer?
In the
> case of pollution credits it would allow violators to extend the
period of
> violation longer. As long as a company can keep its marginal profit
in line,
> they will continue to pollute. In theory it would reduce the total
> pollution, but that's like saying that the total crime rate is
reduced; it
> makes little difference to the victim of individual crime and it makes
> little difference to those living near the specific polluter.
Such a linking is fallacious (false analogy) in my opinion. It is
like comparing an apple to a basketball. Sure they are both round but
apples don't bounce well, and basketballs taste terrible. The
pollution in the original discussion is a negative by product of
*productive* activity where as a stealing and murder are clearly not.
As far as reducing total pollution; isn't this the goal? Clearly some
firms would face much higher costs to re-tool factories to meet quotas
and standards than other firms. By enforcing a uniform standard
society might be forced to bear excessive costs for only moderate
gains in air quality.
Steve
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