Comments on: DC Considers Hike in Gas Tax http://www.taxgirl.com/dc-considers-hike-in-gas-tax/ Paying taxes is painful... but reading about them shouldn't be. Sun, 12 Feb 2012 17:55:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Chris Wright http://www.taxgirl.com/dc-considers-hike-in-gas-tax/comment-page-1/#comment-11035 Chris Wright Mon, 27 Jul 2009 20:51:41 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/?p=3682#comment-11035 I tend to agree with you. Increasing taxes on individual consumption is a poor way to regulate behavior. I consider fuel consumption similar to cigarette and alcohol consumption. The demand for these products is inelastic with respect the "tax" part of their price. I can confirm from personal observation, nobody buys fuel in the District. Not only because they live in the MD & VA burbs, but because it is already too expensive without an additional 3.5 cents (you are also hard pressed to even find a gas station anywhere near where people work). I tend to agree with you. Increasing taxes on individual consumption is a poor way to regulate behavior. I consider fuel consumption similar to cigarette and alcohol consumption. The demand for these products is inelastic with respect the “tax” part of their price.

I can confirm from personal observation, nobody buys fuel in the District. Not only because they live in the MD & VA burbs, but because it is already too expensive without an additional 3.5 cents (you are also hard pressed to even find a gas station anywhere near where people work).

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