davidzet’s Recent Comments

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  sounds like a waste of money...

  ...if demand is so great, Berkeley should direct the $$ to other green projects that "need" subsidies.On Berkeley's program to finance solar systems through property tax assessments is off to great start posted 8 months, 3 weeks ago 5 Responses

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  Peak Water is meaningless...

  http://aguanomics.com/2009/01/peak-water.htmlOn Is there anything that isn't peaking? posted 9 months, 3 weeks ago 8 Responses

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  good new and bad news...

  The good news is that water can be allocated by price. There will be NO "bankruptcy." Price mechanisms can also be pro poor (i.e., some for free, pay for more)

  The bad news is that climate change WILL have adverse impacts on supply, and we will have to cope.

  I hope that the hysterical tone helps, rather than hinders progress in these areas...On World heads for 'water bankruptcy', says Davos report posted 9 months, 3 weeks ago 31 Responses

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  water and price...

  If you want to encourage people to change their water habits and install water-saving technologies, you have to raise the PRICE of water above current levels that are anchored by cost.

  Read about true conservation pricing (i.e., scarcity pricing) at my blog: http://aguanomics.com/2009/01/amending-ab2882.htmlOn Musings from an L.A. green-biz conference posted 9 months, 3 weeks ago 1 Response

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  Preaching to the Choir...

  ....we already know that economists can't agree on many things, and we already know that there are branches of economics that conflict with each other. (It used to be macro vs. micro until macro got "micro-foundations," but now it's neoclassical versus institutional and experimental; more here: http://aguanomics.com/2008/08/neoclassical-failure.html)

  I consider my self post-autistic and DO see that many economists dress up their opinions as mathematical or econometric "proofs," but I do NOT agree that economics has nothing consistent to say.

  Economists all agree on the Law of Demand; they all agree that incentives matter; they all agree that negative externalities should be taxed and that property rights can affect their impacts; etc.

  I read Czech's book years ago and took his message to heart. Unfortunately for us, the "growth cult" is stronger among politicians than economists, and SOME economists hand politicians ready-made arguments for the "end of growth = collapse of civilization". Those of a more thoughtful bent know that growth per se is not relevant. More here: http://aguanomics.com/2008/12/sustainable-economies.html

  I could go on...

  I am happy to see Mr. Meyer discussing this topic (and I often do report on economic confusion/bias/uselessness at my blog), but I also want to caution readers that they should not throw out the baby with the bathwater.On Does economics even look at the real world? posted 10 months, 4 weeks ago 25 Responses