The Liberal Law Of Unintended Consequences at work (though, with liberals, I’m not sure that the word “work” should really be associated with the)
Energy-saving light bulbs leap in price
First the European Union banned the sale of traditional 100-watt light bulbs in favour of “energy-saving” alternatives.
Frosted-style bulbs, too, disappeared from British shop shelves on orders from Brussels.
Now, at the end of this month, comes the biggest reform of all, when all production of basic 60-watt light bulbs will cease.
Once stocks run out, householders will have to rely on low-energy Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) instead.
Sound familiar?
And with just weeks to go before the September 1 switch date, consumers have suffered another blow: the cost of CFLs is soaring.
Manufacturers have blamed recent price rises on the growing cost of raw materials required to make the bulbs, and say there are further increases to come.
However, the CFLs that are replacing them contain small quantities of expensive rare earth elements. Makers say that growing demand for the substances, particularly in China where they come from, has forced prices upwards.
Blimey! Who could have seen that coming! Restrict the marketplace by government decree, require that a specific product be purchased, so, as demand (artificially) rises, and the need for expensive components rise, the price….rises! The costs have gone up 25-60% in the last two years in the EU.
And let’s not forget that CFLs tend to put out up to 60% less light than an incandescent bulb. So, less light, more money.
Amazing. Who would thunk, what with their competition killed off by the Bureaucrats, the CFL makers might up their prices?
Paging Adam Smith…
And you know that the first to truly complain when this happens in the USA will be Lefties, who’ll probably blame those Evil Corporations and Rich People.
Supply and demand – create the supply, then enforce the demand.
Do you notice the disturbing trend that the world is becoming more dependent on one country. And that country has a chip on its shoulder.
yes, decrease dependence on foreign oil by increasing mandatory demand on scarce minerals and materials located in foreign enemy states during a time of severe economic depression and unemployment.
That’ll teach us.