Paris Will Need a New Moniker

(Don Boudreaux)

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Here’s a letter to the Wall Street Journal:

Editor:

In its effort to transition France away from fossil fuels, the French government will nationalize Electricite de France (EDF) (“France to Nationalize Energy Giant EDF to Help It Combat Europe’s Energy Crisis,” July 6).

Idée ingénieuse! The inherent inefficiencies of state-owned enterprises ensures that EDF will routinely subject its customers to blackouts. Much less fossil fuel will thus be used as Paris becomes the City of Only Sometimes Light, and the French people regularly endure the absence of electricity to light and heat their homes, to power their appliances, and to recharge their electric vehicles. Voila! Climate problem solved!

Sincerely,
Donald J. Boudreaux
Professor of Economics
and
Martha and Nelson Getchell Chair for the Study of Free Market Capitalism at the Mercatus Center
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA 22030