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Light Bulbs - Switching on to Government Failure

Geoff Riley

2nd January 2010

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This piece in the Times suggests a classic example of the law of unintended consequences arising from poorly thought-out energy policies. In 2008 the Government ordered the big energy companies to invest in measures for improving energy efficiency and cutting fuel poverty. The result is that 12 million low-energy light bulbs were posted to households over Christmas by an energy company as part of its legal obligation to cut carbon emissions, despite government advice that many would never be used. Over 180 million light bulbs have been issued most are gathering dust in our drawers.

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Geoff Riley

Geoff Riley FRSA has been teaching Economics for nearly forty years. He has over twenty years experience as Head of Economics at leading schools. He writes extensively and is a contributor and presenter on CPD and Revision conferences in the UK and overseas.

@tutor2uGeoff

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