Quote:
Originally Posted by Regorium
What makes you think it doesn't work?
A tiny tax has a tiny effect. However, the effect is not zero, and there's hundreds of studies out there (along with basic economics) to show that it has an effect.
We might not be on track to meet the Paris targets, but there's no doubt that a carbon tax would drive emission reduction. You don't need to solve a problem in one fell swoop.
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I agree with you, but I'm skeptical about the impact of the tax as we saw it. I know the economic theory behind modifying behaviour and it sounds sensible...but I don't see it working in practice. It seems that very few of us made changes during the carbon tax period we had in Alberta? I attribute that partly to the fact that it's on things which are virtually essential (home heating, vehicle fuel spring to mind), and people are apt to eat that increase and not modify behaviour at all for that type of spending.
I realise that there is a tipping point though. If gasoline was suddenly $2/litre, then people would switch quickly to another method of transport and less use. We'd also have a mutiny though! So while I think that behaviour could be modified, the impact has to be pronounced before people are going to live in colder homes or drive significantly less.