Comments on: Unquenchable

By: Robin JG

Robin JG — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 09:51:38 +0000

I like the blog http://www.aguanomics.com by David Zetland, UC Berkeley. He’s usually good on water.

By: David Hoopes

David Hoopes — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:59:32 +0000

I think a big problem is it’s difficult to know when to believe people. Anyone who lives in CA as I do should know we’re always on thin ice with our water supply. Hyperbole is so common in politics. It’s hard to know what any given book tour is really about. Hate to end up on the wrong side of a massive water shortage (again, always possible here in southern cal—giant desert). Nice post Dick.

By: srp

srp — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 01:34:34 +0000

Wildavsky’s work on cultural theory suggests that this attempt at “market environmentalism” is likely to be an uphill struggle. The groups most amenable to hearing about collective environmental dangers are least receptive to market rhetoric and solutions and vice versa. You also have to distinguish between tradeable rights and “free” enterprise–the latter allows private producers of water to profit from selling it to thirsty people, an anathema for the collectivist leaners.

By: David Gerard

David Gerard — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:28:27 +0000

That’s a fascinating question. One of the key policy-relevant questions about “renewable” resources is — how bad do things have to get before people actually buy into markets as an alternative to the generally horrible status quo. Certainly, Gary’s work shows that people will leave a lot of money on the table fighting over distributional issues, especially when the alternative is to “turn it over to the market.”

Of course, it depends on what “markets” means, too. My reading of the current climate change “cap-and-trade” versus “tax” suggests that the cap-and-trade might end up being a rather substantial source of political goodies to give away.