Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Carbon 'black market' emerges

Amazing how fast business and markets (at least those that survive) can adapt to changing conditions. Here you have an anticipitory "green market" in carbon credits even though there is no current legal obligation to do so in Australia.

During World War II it took six to nine months for a gasoline black market to develop after rationing began in 1942, according to this short paper "Coupons and Counterfeits: World War II and the U.S. Black Market"

Copyright prohibits my giving you this paper, but I love the title
" Coupon rationing and rent-seeking bureaucrats"

Starting on page 5 " WORLD WAR II POSTER CAMPAIGNS" reproduces some of the conservation/rationing posters of the day. Worth a look for a graphic representation of the zeitgeist.