The large scale improvements required to curtail the effects of global warming are a major hindrance. Markets historically have not done well spending the capital, time, etc. required to fix such enormous problems. Our interstate highway system has been a major boost for business and consumers, but would never have been built ( or wouldn’t have been built very quickly) if the federal government did not mandate and take responsibility for it’s construction. Our railroad system in the late 19th century, early 20th was burdened with problems due to lack of standardization, etc. Again, because of world war I, the federal government nationalized the railroads, dramatically reducing costs and improving efficiency by standardizing and restructuring the whole system. After the war, the government returned the railroads to private hands.
Global warming is a special problem. Though there is a broad consensus of a majority of scientists that global warming is occurring, and that it is very likely caused by human activity, there is no such consensus of the players in the worlds free markets, even among individual consumers. By the time the global warming problem becomes apparent to EVERYONE, it may already be too late (if it isn’t already) to implement effective counter measures. In other words,the markets may not respond quick enough to provide solutions.
As for the negative effects of global warming on the worlds economy, there are numerous counterexamples where environmental regulations have created jobs, increased productivity by reducing waste etc. The Clean Water Act of 1972 not only improved the safeguarding of our water resources but created tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of jobs in the process. There are numerous side industries, like the recycling of waste animal fats for fuel, that were also created along the way. And notice that our economy grew overall between 1972 and the first few years of this century. These were free market responses to a government regulatory solution. Hope this helped.
Global warming is a hoax.
Are you going to find a free market solution to the Easter bunny?
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The government won’t collect billions in tax revenue…
Oops.., that’s an upside… never mind…
We don’t need a free market solution to a non-crisis
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Hey… the free market solution to unicorn overpopulation is certainly going to be more effective, cheaper, and more fun than the government solution to unicorn overpopulation.
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The downside is that the Free Market implements what the BUYER wants.
And since PEOPLE do not go to the mall to buy Global Cooling
The BUYER is the Government,
& Government WANTS good press NOT real solutions.
For Example:
Engineers know Corn Ethanol does NOT reduce CO2 emissions.
Economists know that requiring it as a gas additive is fiscal insanity.
So why did our @sshole Congressmen screw over the economy with this blazingly stupid ’solution’?
Because MOST voters don’t know it’s stupid
& the farm belt voters like higher corn prices.
Switch grass ethanol is a VERY promising technology,
but there’s little voter enthusiasm, hence little political interest.
The downside to implementing Free Market Solutions is that our Politicians lack both the Intelligence & Integrity to do so.
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The large scale improvements required to curtail the effects of global warming are a major hindrance. Markets historically have not done well spending the capital, time, etc. required to fix such enormous problems. Our interstate highway system has been a major boost for business and consumers, but would never have been built ( or wouldn’t have been built very quickly) if the federal government did not mandate and take responsibility for it’s construction. Our railroad system in the late 19th century, early 20th was burdened with problems due to lack of standardization, etc. Again, because of world war I, the federal government nationalized the railroads, dramatically reducing costs and improving efficiency by standardizing and restructuring the whole system. After the war, the government returned the railroads to private hands.
Global warming is a special problem. Though there is a broad consensus of a majority of scientists that global warming is occurring, and that it is very likely caused by human activity, there is no such consensus of the players in the worlds free markets, even among individual consumers. By the time the global warming problem becomes apparent to EVERYONE, it may already be too late (if it isn’t already) to implement effective counter measures. In other words,the markets may not respond quick enough to provide solutions.
As for the negative effects of global warming on the worlds economy, there are numerous counterexamples where environmental regulations have created jobs, increased productivity by reducing waste etc. The Clean Water Act of 1972 not only improved the safeguarding of our water resources but created tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of jobs in the process. There are numerous side industries, like the recycling of waste animal fats for fuel, that were also created along the way. And notice that our economy grew overall between 1972 and the first few years of this century. These were free market responses to a government regulatory solution. Hope this helped.
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The free market depends on people buying stuff. The easiest and cheapest way to reduce the impact of pollution on global warming would be for people to buy less stuff they don’t really need.
The technologies and businesses that have the money now don’t want to give up their money and power. Those who have some possible solutions to the problem don’t have enough money to make their product popular even if it is a good product that will reduce global warming.
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