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cm2012today at 4:54 PM1 replyview on HN

Yes, any major manufacturing ends up as a big number. It is still usually worth doing!


Replies

mlyletoday at 8:26 PM

It's worth doing when the -true cost of resources- is represented in their price.

If it's not, then more of the thing ends up being done than is socially optimal.

E.g. artificially cheap agricultural water -> lots of water-heavy crops being produced like alfalfa and exported for less than the cost of the water.

I think we might disagree about the degree to this is true, but I think most of us can agree that the true cost of energy is not completely included in its price.