New Gas Mileage Rules, Intel’s Legal Issues and India’s National Election
President Obama announces strict new rules on gas mileage for new cars.
After being fined $1.4 billion for alleged antitrust violations in Europe, Intel could face civil lawsuits as well.
Voters in India give a decisive electoral victory to the centrist Congress Party and its United Progressive Alliance.
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1. SAFETY
President Obama announces strict new rules on gas mileage for new cars.
CEI Expert Available to Comment: General Counsel Sam Kazman on the true cost of the proposed rules:
“Corporate Average Fuel Economy is among the deadliest government regulations we have, and with today’s announcement it’s going to get even deadlier. It kills consumers by reducing vehicle size, and now it may well kill car companies by forcing them to produce cars that consumers don’t want. The only redeeming aspect of the President’s announcement is that there’ll be only one standard imposed on the industry, rather both national and California standards. But that just means carmakers will have one noose around their necks instead of two.”
2. TECHNOLOGY
After being fined $1.4 billion for alleged antitrust violations in Europe, Intel could face civil lawsuits as well.
CEI Expert Available to Comment: Information Policy Analyst Ryan Radia on why current antitrust law is counterproductive:
“Antitrust regulation in the new economy is a new face of the old ‘industrial policy,’ allowing bureaucrats to manipulate economic outcomes and favor companies dearer to them than consumer choice. European competition law in particular allows policymakers to intervene at will, increasing uncertainty, damaging wealth creation and consumer well-being.”
3. INTERNATIONAL
Voters in India give a decisive electoral victory to the centrist Congress Party and its United Progressive Alliance.
CEI Expert Available to Comment: Senior Fellow Iain Murray on why the results are good for democracy and capitalism:
“India’s Congress Party was responsible for many mistakes when it turned India into a corrupt socialist state in the 1960s and 70s, but it changed course after a series of electoral defeats, and pro-market reforms were possible in the 1980s and 90s. Under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh it has been a champion of free-enterprise capitalism that has turned India into a successful modern state. Despite the global recession, Indians have strongly endorsed Mr Singh’s policies and returned Congress to power. The Communist “Third Force” block, which had boasted that it was going to be the kingmaker in the new Parliament, has suffered major setbacks, including huge losses in its stronghold of West Bengal.”
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