CARBON

I recently read two nice articles about carbon dioxide. "Financing Green Development" (subscription required) reminds us that there is an upfront cost differential involved in going green, but if carbon is properly priced in the future (say, via a tax), you more than make it up ongoing. "Carbon's New Math" is a keeper, what with its nice visual on how global carbon emissions are steadily climbing, and 15 ways we can decelerate that growth or even flatten or reduce levels.

In economist-speak, pollution is the classic "negative externality" screaming for government intervention. The jury is still about which tools work best in the marketplace, but it seems clear to me that we've got something here that needs fixing.