USA Today: Americans unlikely to save much gas
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In our little blog microcosm all we talk about is a variety of ways to conserve fuel or switch to renewable fuel sources. But, according to a USA Today article, the majority of Americans don't plan their fuel consumption habits. It seems we get used to slow increments in fuel prices and we're more afraid of losing something than we are motivated by the advantages of giving it up. If our gas prices went up a dollar overnight, we'd complain, but the slower increases of a couple a cents every time we fill up don't seem to bother most of us. Conservation means sacrifice and giving up some things we take for granted. But while there is evidence of fuel-saving, even that can be put in a negative light. It took a significant rise in gas prices before people changed their behavior just a little bit. If prices were to drift down, conservation would quickly be abandoned by many, but today's high gas prices don't necessarily encourage fuel-saving behavior by everyone. So are things hopeless? Maybe in the near term things look grim, but in the long run things might change for the better. We might make a more fuel efficient choice for our next car and automakers are probably going to give us many more fuel efficient cars to choose from. [Source: USA Today]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Patrick Starling 3:10AM (5/25/2006)
Really, what it comes down to, is simple microeconomics, but not so simple that people without some economics training would see the connection right away. Price is not always a determinant of demand. What really determines demand is what we economists call utility, or how much pleasure you derive from something or some consumption. People in the US love to drive, and our society is really set up for it, so people don't see public transport, walking, or biking as alternatives - they're just oo much of a hassel.
This means (as some media pundits have said), that gas prices must go up to some very high level before consumption patterns will ever change. There is some high price at which people's consumption patterns will shift and they will conserve more and demand even more efficient vehicles and fuel alternatives, but without government internvention and assistance, when prices fall, even a bit, people will forget.
Really the government needs to play a role in shifting consumption patterns. SUVs need to be curtailed (Either though tougher emissions and efficiency regulations), or there need to be some sort of taxes on these large inefficient vehicles. Plus there needs to me major government financing into alternative fuels - ethanol, biodiesel, hydrogen, enhanced hybrids, diesel hybrids. Without this, it's going to take gas price shocks like those of the 70's and 80's to affect any change around here.
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