At the start of World War II, the US economy relied almost exclusively on imported rubber as the key material for making, among other things, tires for cars and airplanes. The dependency was well-known, but in April 1942, when Japan cut off the foreign supply, the US was unprepared. Synthetic rubber ended up being part…
When Rubber Was the Critical Imported Good
When Rubber Was the Critical Imported Good
05 Mar 2026 Leave a comment
in defence economics, economic history, transport economics, war and peace Tags: World War II
Lawfare Begins Against Repealing Endangerment Finding–Legalities Outlook
24 Feb 2026 Leave a comment
in economics of climate change, economics of regulation, energy economics, environmental economics, environmentalism, global warming, law and economics, politics - USA, Public Choice, transport economics, urban economics Tags: constitutional law
The expected blowback from invested climatists is underway, as reported by legacy media whose bias is with the alarmists. Examples: EPA faces lawsuit over scrapping the ‘endangerment finding,’ a pillar of climate regulation, Scientific American E.P.A. Faces First Lawsuit Over Its Killing of Major Climate Rule, NY Times Lawsuit: EPA revoking greenhouse gas finding risks […]
Lawfare Begins Against Repealing Endangerment Finding–Legalities Outlook
Even auto giants know it: the electric car boom is out of charge
19 Feb 2026 Leave a comment
in economics of bureaucracy, economics of climate change, energy economics, environmental economics, environmentalism, global warming, income redistribution, Public Choice, rentseeking, transport economics Tags: electric cars
By Paul Homewood h/t Ian Magness From the Telegraph: “I think the customer has spoken. That’s the punchline,” said Jim Farley, the chief executive of Ford. The American boss was speaking last week as his company unveiled a $5bn (£3.7bn) annual loss, barely two months after it had booked a shock $19.5bn write-down. The […]
Even auto giants know it: the electric car boom is out of charge
Canada Scraps EV Mandate
09 Feb 2026 Leave a comment
in economics of climate change, energy economics, environmental economics, environmentalism, global warming, transport economics, urban economics Tags: Canada, electric cars
By Paul Homewood The row back against EV mandates is gathering momentum. From LifeSite News: After backlash from consumers, Canadian premiers, automakers, and industry groups, the Canadian government more or less scrapped its total Electric Vehicle (EV) 2035 mandate.
Canada Scraps EV Mandate
Labour Throw Motorists Under The Bus
09 Feb 2026 Leave a comment
in economics of climate change, economics of regulation, energy economics, environmental economics, environmentalism, global warming, transport economics, urban economics Tags: electric cars
By Paul Homewood You will remember I wrote to my local Labour MP a couple of months ago to discuss the problems facing electric car drivers who don’t have off street parking – namely the exorbitant cost of public chargers, lack of chargers and the issue of running a charge cable across […]
Labour Throw Motorists Under The Bus
Starmer Government Greenlights 15 Minute City Legal Enforcement
02 Feb 2026 Leave a comment
in economics of climate change, economics of regulation, energy economics, environmental economics, environmentalism, global warming, transport economics, urban economics Tags: British politics
Ordinary residents of trial cities will only be permitted 100 days per year outside their 15 minute region. But special people get a free pass.
Starmer Government Greenlights 15 Minute City Legal Enforcement
Hybrid Horror – You are 3x More Likely to Die in a Hybrid Vehicle than a Gasoline Vehicle
31 Dec 2025 Leave a comment
in energy economics, transport economics Tags: hybrid cars
Recently released UK government stats suggest Hybrid vehicles are significantly more dangerous to vehicle occupants than gasoline vehicles.
Hybrid Horror – You are 3x More Likely to Die in a Hybrid Vehicle than a Gasoline Vehicle
New York Unheated EV School Bus Horror
29 Dec 2025 Leave a comment
in economics of climate change, economics of education, energy economics, environmental economics, environmentalism, global warming, politics - USA, transport economics, urban economics Tags: electric cars
Children’s fingers, toes and noses are so overrated…
New York Unheated EV School Bus Horror
Fuel rationing chaos looms in New York State
25 Dec 2025 Leave a comment
in economics of bureaucracy, economics of climate change, economics of regulation, energy economics, environmental economics, environmentalism, global warming, politics - USA, Public Choice, transport economics Tags: electric cars
Rationing gasoline and diesel under the Climate Act is a predictable prescription for chaos. It is the mobility these motor fuels provide that guarantees rationing to meet the 2030 emissions target will not work.
Fuel rationing chaos looms in New York State
EU abandons petrol car ban
21 Dec 2025 Leave a comment
in economics of climate change, economics of regulation, energy economics, environmental economics, environmentalism, global warming, transport economics
By Paul Homewood This confirms the rumours: From the Telegraph: The European Union has abandoned plans to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2035, bowing to pressure from Germany and Italy.
EU abandons petrol car ban
Ford takes $20bn hit to reverse course on electric cars
18 Dec 2025 Leave a comment
in economics of climate change, energy economics, environmental economics, environmentalism, global warming, transport economics Tags: electric cars
Ford will take a $19.5bn (£14.5bn) hit as it tore up plans to invest significant sums into electric cars.
Ford takes $20bn hit to reverse course on electric cars
Tories to Ditch ZEV Mandate
17 Dec 2025 Leave a comment
in economics of climate change, economics of regulation, energy economics, environmental economics, environmentalism, global warming, transport economics Tags: British politics, climate activists, electric cars
By Paul Homewood https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/12/13/next-conservative-government-ditch-ban-petrol-cars/ I briefly mentioned the Tories’ about turn on the petrol car ban. What was not clear was whether Kemi Badenoch would also ditch the ZEV mandate. Her interview with the Telegraph makes clear it will be ditched. The Telegraph reports:
Tories to Ditch ZEV Mandate
Miliband Isolated as EU Prepares to Reverse Petrol Car Ban
16 Dec 2025 1 Comment
in economics of climate change, economics of regulation, energy economics, environmental economics, environmentalism, global warming, transport economics, urban economics Tags: British politics, electric cars
Ed Miliband has been left isolated over his Net Zero policies after the European Union dropped “indefinitely” a flagship pledge to ban sales of new petrol cars.
Miliband Isolated as EU Prepares to Reverse Petrol Car Ban
The terrible Supreme Court decision on Uber
28 Nov 2025 Leave a comment
in applied price theory, economics of regulation, industrial organisation, labour economics, labour supply, occupational choice, politics - New Zealand, transport economics, urban economics Tags: employment law
The Supreme Court has ruled that four Uber drivers are employees of Uber, despite written agreements they are contractors, not employees. The practical effect of this decision is terrible. Uber has been great for passengers. Not only can we hold drivers to account through ratings, we save a lot of money. An Uber to the…
The terrible Supreme Court decision on Uber
The Flaw at the Core of the Supreme Court’s Uber Decision
25 Nov 2025 Leave a comment
in economics of regulation, industrial organisation, labour economics, labour supply, law and economics, occupational choice, politics - New Zealand, Public Choice, rentseeking, transport economics, urban economics Tags: creative destruction, employment law
Roger Partridge writes – The Supreme Court’s Uber judgment (Rasier Operations BV v E Tū Inc [2025] NZSC 162) has delivered clarity of a sort. The Court dismissed Uber’s appeal, upholding the finding that the drivers involved in the proceedings are employees when logged into the Uber app. Yet the decision is deeply flawed. The Court […]
The Flaw at the Core of the Supreme Court’s Uber Decision
Utopia, you are standing in it! 
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