Self-driving cars should be taxed to offset job losses, thinktank urges
Public PolicyEconomicsUrban Planning
THE AI ANGLE
Powering autonomous robotaxis that displace human drivers and increase road congestionThe Centre for British Progress thinktank has urged the UK government to introduce an early per-mile tax on autonomous vehicles to offset rising road congestion, replace declining fuel duty, and mitigate the displacement of 417,000 taxi and private hire drivers. While advocates argue an early levy prices in the social costs of traffic before an anti-tax owner constituency forms, tech firms warn the measure could penalize domestic innovators in a competitive global market.
THE TEACHING ANGLE
Instructors can explore the tension between proactively implementing Pigouvian taxes to manage labor displacement and traffic externalities versus the risk of stifling emerging technological innovation.Read the original at theguardian.com Generate teaching or study materials
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