Comments on: “Sin” Taxes Put Perverse Incentives on Government

By: SteveS

SteveS — Mon, 28 Feb 2005 16:42:00 +0000

I just discovered your blog via Instapundit and I am hooked. Great Site and really great blogs. We share some of the same passions: Economics, Business and Public Policy, the Wile E coyote (although I would generalize my love to the area of anything looney toon made before 1970).

I agree with you that government's appetite for tax revenue is insatiable and that "sin" taxes are an easy target. However, almost all economists agree that "Pigovian taxes", the name preferred by economists, are preferable to regulation. In fact, they are generally considered to be vastly more effective than regulation at dealing with negative externalities. Given that negative externalities are a form of market failure, they sometimes can make a market more efficient rather than less.

By: PunditGuy

PunditGuy — Wed, 23 Feb 2005 09:19:01 +0000

The 127th Carnival of the Vanities

Welcome to the 127th Carnival of the Vanities! First things first. I’d like to thank Silflay Hraka for creating this weekly event. Take some time to look around his site and if you’d like to host a future carnival, be sure to let him know. To join the …

By: KurtP

KurtP — Fri, 18 Feb 2005 03:10:20 +0000

Over here in Tx, we've got a State Rep, (guess which party) that wants to index fuel taxes to cost. Yep, you're paying more for gas, and your taxes go up, too.

Thank goodness they're looking out for the poor.

By: Illuminaria's Voice

Illuminaria's Voice — Fri, 18 Feb 2005 01:44:05 +0000

Surprise – Governments Out For Money Too

I saw a very interesting piece at Coyote Blog today. Basically it points out the effect that taxes on certain things, such as cigarettes, that are meant to suppress “socially harmful” behaviors have on the government. Eventually the government come…

By: Illuminaria's Voice

Illuminaria's Voice — Fri, 18 Feb 2005 01:44:05 +0000

Surprise – Governments Out For Money Too