There are two competing stories about the causes of the enormous destruction of buildings and lives that have caused the recent fires in South California. One group of people blames climate change. Another group blames the poor government policy that has nothing to do with the climate.
Which side is more correct? The second side. Even if we have the idea that climate change has led to burning fires, governments on all three levels – federal, state and locally – have implemented policy that was ensured. Moreover, there is little evidence that climate change was an important cause of the fires.
This is from David R. Henderson, “California Burning: Causes and the road forward” DefineJanuary 30, 2025.
And:
Let’s say that you believe that climate change, also known as global warming, has made burning more extreme. If you think so, does it not follow that you have to prepare for such fires? It is not as if we are completely helpless. So let’s look at the different claims about human causes. When I earned my doctorate in UCLA’s economy, the favorite way of many professors was to ask a question about an exam to make a statement and to ask us if it was true, untrue or uncertain . That is how I will evaluate the most important claims.
I look at the role of the absence of Mayor Karen Bass, the water system, the fire brigade (alleged) cuts, fire brigade staff, the cropping of brush and the role of climate change.
Another excerpt:
I therefore conclude that the claim about the empty Santa Ynez -Reservoir is an important cause is uncertain.
But here is what is true. Governments tend to neglect long -term improvements in infrastructure. Why? Incentives. Government managers of government activa have little incentive to preserve and improve them. If they do well, they will not capture any of the value they create. If they do it bad, they hardly lose anything. In the worst case they are fired, and that is not even a fact. Consider how often we hear about the government’s bureaucracy that failed spectacularly, with the bureaucrats who are in charge of their work while they do not accept wage reductions. Even worse, sometimes legislators respond to bureaucratic failures by giving the bureaucracies more Power and greater budgets. Private owners, on the other hand, have a strong incentive to maintain and improve assets.
Then I look at how government regulations will hinder the recovery.
Read the all -thing.