These are the CASSE blog articles by David Shreve.


Introducing the Sustainable Trade Act

by David Shreve

What are supposed to be the advantages of the free-trade consensus that has emerged in the last century? Yes, innovative technologies and techniques have made their way around the globe. The diffusion of digital communications, managerial technology, advanced materials engineering, and efficient shipping techniques are but a few prominent examples. The openness and complexity of the global trading system have facilitated this diffusion.

Additionally, trade based on “comparative advantage” has modestly increased global economic efficiency.


Introducing the Natural Resources and Electricity Cap-and-Trade Act

by David Shreve

In cap-and-trade systems, the government places a “cap,” or limit, typically on pollution or resource extraction. The amount of pollution or extraction is then divided into “allowances,” which are allocated to the polluting or extracting corporations. These corporations can trade their unused allowances in the marketplace.

Cap-and-trade policies promise significant abatement at an optimally low cost. But does experience with cap-and-trade systems vindicate this promise?

The United States and other countries have tested a variety of cap-and-trade systems.


Introducing the Sustainable Transportation Act

by David Shreve

While transportation is vital to American prosperity, the transportation sector is the largest direct contributor of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions among all economic sectors. Even though passenger-car efficiency has steadily increased in recent years, the sector’s contribution to environmental degradation has continued to rise. Since 1995, U.S. transportation sector emissions have risen by almost 20 percent.

We cannot ignore the principal problems in the U.S.