Re:How much do things really cost?
by TulliusCicero on Saturday April 02, 2022 @04:54PM
(#30891591)
> If I drive a car, and it causes pollution where I live, then aren't I, as part of society, paying the "true" cost?
No, because part of the cost is the fact that pollution in that area affects everyone -- including non-drivers. You're paying part of the cost, yes, but not the whole thing.
Imagine if there was some mechanism such that non-drivers inhaled as much pollution as there'd be if there were no cars*, and drivers inhaled as much pollution as is proportional to however much pollution they themselves create (this would vary not just based on a binary do/do not drive, but on how much you drive and how polluting your vehicle is). Then each person would be paying the true cost.
A true cost has to be proportional to the damage done, such that changing behavior results in changing cost paid.
* leaving aside the impracticality of zero non-electric cars for the moment
No, because part of the cost is the fact that pollution in that area affects everyone -- including non-drivers. You're paying part of the cost, yes, but not the whole thing.
Imagine if there was some mechanism such that non-drivers inhaled as much pollution as there'd be if there were no cars*, and drivers inhaled as much pollution as is proportional to however much pollution they themselves create (this would vary not just based on a binary do/do not drive, but on how much you drive and how polluting your vehicle is). Then each person would be paying the true cost.
A true cost has to be proportional to the damage done, such that changing behavior results in changing cost paid.
* leaving aside the impracticality of zero non-electric cars for the moment