12 Aug Command-and-control policies

Question 1 (Mandatory) (1 point)

Command-and-control policies, like requiring washing machines to be 21% more energy efficient to reduce energy consumption, are policy instruments regulators can use to address externalities. However, economists tend to favor other regulations because command-and-control policies often fail to achieve least-cost solutions.

Question 2 (Mandatory) (1 point)

Sometimes it is desirable to use command-and-control policies, like when vaccinating populations against smallpox, instead of subsidizing or taxing.

Question 3 (Mandatory) (1 point)

According to the blog post you read for this week, which strategy reduced Japanese electricity consumption during peak times more?

Question 4 (Mandatory) (1 point)

According to this week’s blog post, what tool(s) should be used to lower energy consumption and water consumption?

Question 5 (Mandatory) (1 point)

United States CAFE standards are vehicle performance standards with the goal of reducing fuel consumption and green house gas emissions. What do CAFE standards do?

Question 6 (Mandatory) (1 point)

The Renewable Fuel Standard can be considered a technology standard because it dictates the method of fuel blending refiners must use when producing motor vehicle fuel. What mistake did US regulators fail to account for when they designed the regulation?

Question 7 (Mandatory) (1 point)

To qualify as renewable fuels under the Renewable Fuel Standard program, fuels must have lower greenhouse gas emissions associated with their production (the entire production process) relative to petroleum in 2005. Which of the following achieves the largest reduction is greenhouse gas emissions?

Question 8 (Mandatory) (1 point)

CAFE Standards have become more and more complex over the years, including differentiating fleets into “domestic passenger cars”, “imported passenger cars”, and “light-duty trucks”, adjustments based on “footprint”, adjustments based on how many miles a vehicle type is driven on average, and EPA incentive credits for certain technologies or vehicle types.