tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6642011.post5817718790685272201..comments2023-10-29T10:32:36.914-04:00Comments on Philosophy, et cetera: Tax and RedistributeRichard Y Chappellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16725218276285291235noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6642011.post-46253056486436159672008-05-17T13:25:00.000-04:002008-05-17T13:25:00.000-04:00I think most places especially in the western US w...I think most places especially in the western US where water is scarce have a two tier system. Go above a certain amount and huge penalties are incurred.<BR/><BR/>The problem with water in the west is that it is easier to get bonded than to simply raise rates due to the way loans are made to cities and counties. So this tends to add incentives to not do water wisely.Clark Goblehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03876620613578404474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6642011.post-70697970206155046042008-05-17T09:27:00.000-04:002008-05-17T09:27:00.000-04:00Where I am (souther Portugal) we have a three tier...Where I am (souther Portugal) we have a three tier system.<BR/><BR/>A low (€10 a month or so) fee for the basic water supplies to run a household. A medium fee (€35 or so a month) which will provide enough to run a household plus water the garden etc....lawns do take a lot of water.<BR/><BR/>Then, if you go above the volumes paid for by that medium fee you face ever rising chrages for the marginal litres above that. Not just a fee per litre, but each extra litre has a higher price than the one before (well, not quite, but in bands).<BR/><BR/>Works pretty well actually: the people with the big villas keeping the gardens green in August subsidise the poorer families.Tim Worstallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13161727860817121071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6642011.post-1247118296609529742008-05-16T17:17:00.000-04:002008-05-16T17:17:00.000-04:00The western systems, particularly the American one...The western systems, particularly the American one, generally lack faith that if you make one concession (allowing higher prices) you will get an equivalent concession (redistribution) elsewhere so every one fights for every inch and good game theory results never get formed.Geniushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11624496692217466430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6642011.post-78990283077162653982008-05-16T16:49:00.000-04:002008-05-16T16:49:00.000-04:00While I agree in general, I do think we have to be...While I agree in general, I do think we have to be a bit cautious here. The operative question will always be <I>how</I> one will go about redistributing the proceeds, and whether that method of redistribution really in the end sufficiently compensates for the disincentive. In many cases such methods can be found (in the water district case it would presumably be fairly easy to set up), but I don't think we can assume offhand that they will be available in every case (I've never seen a good plan for redistributing gas tax proceeds, for instance).Brandonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06698839146562734910noreply@blogger.com