Ross McKitrick: a truth-based cap-and-trade linked to tropical troposphere temperature, which you can then short if a skeptic or go long if an alarmist
07 Dec 2019 Leave a comment
in applied welfare economics, comparative institutional analysis, constitutional political economy, energy economics, environmental economics, global warming, Public Choice, public economics, rentseeking Tags: cap and trade, carbon pricing, green rent seeking
After–dark isn’t Big Solar’s only problem @GreenpeaceNZ
27 May 2017 Leave a comment
in energy economics, environmental economics Tags: Big Solar, green rent seeking, solar energy, solar power
Learn more about the importance of real-time #electricity pricing in Re-Powering Markets bit.ly/210JDVU https://t.co/NZVs9zh895—
(@IEA) February 21, 2016
.@GreenpeaceNZ picks & chooses its scientific consensus #GMOs #globalwarming
02 Jul 2016 Leave a comment
in development economics, environmental economics, global warming, health economics, politics - New Zealand, Public Choice, rentseeking Tags: activists, agricultural economics, antimarket bias, climate alarmism, do gooders, expressive voting, GMOs, green rent seeking, Greenpeace, Twitter left
For a generation, a campaign by the green movement against the growing of genetically modified crops has held sway across Europe. These foodstuffs are a threat to health, the environment and the small independent farmer, NGOs have argued.
As result, virtually no GM crops have been grown on Europe’s farms for the past 25 years. Yet hard evidence to support what is, in all but name, a ban on these vilified forms of plant life is thin on the ground. In fact, most scientific reports have indicated that they are generally safe, both to humans and the environment.
This point was endorsed last week when a 20-strong committee of experts from the US National Academies of Science announced the results of its trawl of three decades of scientific studies for “persuasive evidence of adverse health effects directly attributable to consumption of foods derived from genetically engineered crops”. It found none.
Instead the group uncovered evidence that GM crops have the potential to bestow considerable health benefits. An example is provided by golden rice, a genetically modified rice that contains beta carotene, a source of vitamin A. Its use could save the lives of hundreds of thousands of children who suffer from vitamin A deficiency in the third world, say scientists.
Source: The Observer view on the GM crops debate | Opinion | The Guardian
Scientists and governments around the world overwhelmingly agree that climate change is real, is largely human-induced and needs urgent action to prevent.
There is, in fact, a broad and overwhelming scientific consensus that climate change is occurring, is caused in large part by human activities (such as burning fossil fuels), and if left un-checked will likely have disastrous consequences.
Furthermore, there is solid scientific evidence that we should act now on climate change – and this is reflected in the statements by these definitive scientific authorities.
Had we hit peak wind turbine technician demand?
09 May 2016 Leave a comment
in energy economics, environmental economics, global warming, labour economics, labour supply, occupational choice Tags: Big Wind, green rent seeking, renewable energy, wind power
Doubling from 4,400 to 9,000 does not exactly strike me as an explosion in wind technician employment.
Source: Wind Turbine Technicians : Occupational Outlook Handbook: : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Yet still this occupation is expected to be the fastest-growing occupation in the USA in the next 10 years.
The renewable energy curse – does corruption turn clean energy into dirty? @GarethMP
30 Apr 2016 Leave a comment
in comparative institutional analysis, constitutional political economy, energy economics, environmental economics, global warming, Public Choice, rentseeking Tags: European Union, expressive voting, green rent seeking, Italy, renewable energy, solar power, wind power
Massimo Tavoni and Caterina Gennaioli published a nice paper showing that corruption and violence was higher in the high wind provinces of Italy after the installation of wind generators. They built on earlier work about countries with abundant renewable resources and weak institutions. The main question in their paper
… is whether an increase in the expected returns of investments in wind energy, following the introduction of the new policy regime based on a green certificate system, has driven economic agents, namely bureaucrats and entrepreneurs, to engage more in rent seeking activities.
As they studied Italy, there is no surprise about the answer which was yes. High winds ensure high returns of the wind farm investment, but whether this translates into more bribery depends on institutional quality. There was more corruption, and so especially in high-wind provinces of Italy.
Source: Green policy and corruption | VOX, CEPR’s Policy Portal.
The construction of an average wind park is associated with an increase of criminal association activity of 6%. Italy will have more corruption than elsewhere in the old European Union.
The wider problem is renewable energy is a celebrity technology. In the context of expressive politics, so many cheer for solar and wind power that standards drop in terms of who qualifies for subsidies and who should lose support when their investments do not turn out as promised.
https://twitter.com/CountCarbon/status/715136022414299138
Wind power is not new, it is intermittent, is unsuitable for modern work, and is land constrained but it is still subsidised. Green rent seeking is a real risk even in countries with the best political institutions.
Environmentalists are the biggest science deniers of all #EarthDay
24 Apr 2016 Leave a comment
in economics of regulation, energy economics, environmental economics, global warming, Public Choice, rentseeking Tags: antimarket bias, antiscience left, green rent seeking, Greenpeace, nuclear power, pessimism bias, rational irrationality, wind power
Are we there yet on solar power? @GarethMP @GreenpeaceNZ @NZGreens
24 Feb 2016 Leave a comment
in economic history, energy economics, environmental economics, Public Choice, rentseeking Tags: Big Solar, green rent seeking, rational irrationality, solar energy, solar power
Source: History of Solar Power – IER.
Think Again: The Green Economy @janlogie @GarethMP
23 Feb 2016 Leave a comment
in applied welfare economics, energy economics, environmental economics, politics - New Zealand, politics - USA, Public Choice, resource economics Tags: climate alarmism, green economy, green rent seeking
Source: Matthew Kahn (2009) Think Again: The Green Economy | Foreign Policy
@Greenpeace why are German and Danish power prices so high?
24 Dec 2015 Leave a comment
in applied price theory, economic history, energy economics, environmental economics, global warming, Public Choice, rentseeking Tags: Big Solar, Big Wind, bootleggers and baptists, climate alarmism, Denmark, Germany, green rent seeking, power prices, solar power, wind power
@WorldBank is telling porky pies about #EndPoverty and fighting #ClimateChange
13 Dec 2015 Leave a comment
in development economics, economics of bureaucracy, energy economics, environmental economics, global warming, growth disasters, growth miracles Tags: climate aid, climate alarmists, extreme poverty, global poverty, green rent seeking, overseas aid, overseas development assistance, World Bank
Were @jamespeshaw & @DrJamesHansen at the same #COP21
13 Dec 2015 Leave a comment
in economics of regulation, energy economics, environmental economics, global warming, politics - New Zealand Tags: climate aid, climate alarmism, green rent seeking, international climate treaties, New Zealand Greens
Paris was a tremendous defeat for the climate alarmists. Now that they have their treaty – a non-binding treaty – their ability to stir up political momentum to do more is undermined. If the environmental movement already has their agreement to save the world, why is anything more necessary. Especially anything that is costly to the hip-pocket such as a carbon tax.
The Greens, rarely for them, have settled for half measures. That was unwise considering these half measures are nothing at all apart from climate aid. Few like to remember that the Republicans still control the U.S. Congress. Centre-right parties control most governments in Europe.
Are @JulieAnneGenter @BjornLomborg attending the same #COP21
10 Dec 2015 1 Comment
in development economics, econometerics, energy economics, environmental economics, global warming, growth disasters, growth miracles, politics - New Zealand, Public Choice, rentseeking Tags: climate aid, climate alarmism, expressive voting, green rent seeking, New Zealand Greens, ODA, overseas development assistance
Can We Rely on Wind and Solar Energy?
04 Nov 2015 Leave a comment
in energy economics Tags: Big Solar, Big Wind, green rent seeking, solar power, wind power
Utopia, you are standing in it! 
Recent Comments