Decius wrote:

England's system has an interesting wealth redistribution effect to it in that individuals that don't travel frequently could sell their carbon units for cash. This is slightly different then the effect on factories which all have a builtin need to pollute and can only avoid it by spending money on cleaning technology. Whereas the US system creates the incentive to build clean factories, this english version would pay people to not travel. It seems like a fuel tax would make more sense, but perhaps this is more politically palitable as for most people it will seem as if the government is giving them money rather then taking it away.

No, it doesn't make more sense for one simple reason: it only hurts poor people. The UK system is more pallatable because it creates a financial incentive, not disincentive, in addition to directly assuaging the problem.

-janelane, considerately

RE: Energy Rationing Plans in Britain