> Rebranding these as "externality taxes" is well & good, but it doesn't change the fact that government departments need the revenue, externalites or not.
Well not every country charges 180% import taxes like Denmark but this comes with externalities as well.
Cars are so expensive that many people can't afford them (sales were 13x higher without the import tax that's a significant amount of cars not being purchased):
a) meaning poor people can't commute to work, limiting employment options to what is accessible by public transit or cycling
b) consumers are limited to shopping and domestic tourism accessible by transit/cycling
c) businesses that depend on delivery and shipping, or basic car travel, will have lower margins and less growth/employment
d) lower economic output means more dependency on gov social safety nets
e) Car companies can only sell a few already expensive electric cars, reducing economies of scale and R&D investment, further increasing the cost of electric cars and slowing their tech development
f) A big reduction in the surrounding support industries, fuel/electricity, car wash, gas stations, mechanics, car parts, etc
...but yes gov does need money, but the costs of doing so must be fully considered. Including measuring the ROI of various government agencies which this reduced economic output and greater dependency on social services are traded for.
Well not every country charges 180% import taxes like Denmark but this comes with externalities as well.
Cars are so expensive that many people can't afford them (sales were 13x higher without the import tax that's a significant amount of cars not being purchased):
a) meaning poor people can't commute to work, limiting employment options to what is accessible by public transit or cycling
b) consumers are limited to shopping and domestic tourism accessible by transit/cycling
c) businesses that depend on delivery and shipping, or basic car travel, will have lower margins and less growth/employment
d) lower economic output means more dependency on gov social safety nets
e) Car companies can only sell a few already expensive electric cars, reducing economies of scale and R&D investment, further increasing the cost of electric cars and slowing their tech development
f) A big reduction in the surrounding support industries, fuel/electricity, car wash, gas stations, mechanics, car parts, etc
...but yes gov does need money, but the costs of doing so must be fully considered. Including measuring the ROI of various government agencies which this reduced economic output and greater dependency on social services are traded for.