Some other things to ponder for the next time you are sitting on a congested highway… When I talk to people about tolling roads, most people immediately reject the idea entirely. I like to ask them to think about it next time they are in a traffic jam. Hey, if you sit in traffic, you … [Read more...]
Yes, Virginia, government roads really are government subsidized, and no, they don’t approximate freed-market outcomes
Recently, I came accross an article by Charles Johnson, who blogs at Rad Geek. The article had linked to a Market Urbanism post about how user fees and gas taxes fall well short of funding road use in the US. Charles' article further debunks the Urbanism Legend asserted by free-market imposters … [Read more...]
Chicago Privatizes Parking Meters
Of course, Chicago is just privatizing the revenue from meters, not the actual parking spaces. Plus, the city will regulate rate increases, but it's a step in the right direction. (right?) For today's politicians, this is a great way to get windfalls of money today for revenues of future … [Read more...]
Tolling NY’s East River Bridges Back on The Table?
[flickr: darren bryden] Congestion pricing schemes, touted as environmentally-responsible at the time of $4 gas, were defeated in New York City last Spring. However, as the market turmoil threatens to wreak havoc on tax revenues, fiscal necessity has lured New York State and New York City … [Read more...]
Block on Road Socialism
For quite some time, Economist Walter Block has been one of the more radical thinkers when it comes to advocating free market solutions. Many of his writings on roads and rent control are featured in the Links to Articles, Academic Papers and Books page. Today's Lew Rockwell Podcast features an … [Read more...]
Boudreaux: Roads Don’t Need New Taxes
Don Boudreaux to the Washington Times: LETTER TO EDITOR: Roads don't need new taxes Thursday, July 24, 2008 Upset that Virginians' taxes were not recently raised to construct more roads, State Delegate Brian J. Moran, Alexandria and Fairfax Democrat, declares that "Government has an … [Read more...]
Ikea Provides Private Transportation, Santiago-Style
[photo: flickr: moriah] In a perfect tie-in to yesterday's EconTalk podcast on public transportation, Ikea's new Brooklyn store provides free bus and ferry service to locations in Brooklyn and Manhattan. Not only is it free, but it's nicer than the $2/ride public alternative. Most … [Read more...]
EconTalk Podcast on Public Transportation
I regularly listen to Russel Robert's EconTalk podcasts. This week's podcast with Michael Munger from Duke University is particularly interesting, and possibly my favorite, along with the Milton Friedman interview. Photo by Flikr user Silvia Sugasti Professor Munger had just returned from … [Read more...]