Thursday, December 11, 2014

[cgelvmxo] Social effects of gasoline tax

Suppose we raise the gasoline tax to fight climate change.  This causes people to want to commute less, preferring to live in denser neighborhoods near their work, schools, and play.

However, density means you have to put up with other people.  Density may bring to the forefront social discord which is currently kept under control by keeping the parties geographically separated.  For example, the undesirable lower classes don't have to travel as far to harass the rich; the rich find it impossible to live peaceful lives without the poor intruding. Whites had originally fled to the suburbs to keep their children safe from blacks; if they move back, their children will become less safe in this regard.  Pessimistically, such social discord may result in hugely costly conflicts (e.g., civil war, genocide) that outweigh the benefits of decreasing climate change.

No comments :