Daylight Savings Time

Matthew Yglesias points to a study that finds the primary rationale for DST has always been to promote energy conservation. Nevertheless, there is surprisingly little evidence that DST actually saves energy. [On the contrary,] we estimate a cost of increased electricity bills to Indiana households of $9 million per year. We also estimate social costs of increased pollution emissions that range from $1.7 to $5.5 million per year. Finally, we argue that the effect is likely to be even stronger in other regions of the United States. I have seen other studies that point the same way.

(via Andrew Sullivan)

This doesn’t even count the cost of inconveniencing and confusing everyone twice a year.

It’s a good example of how government programs always linger on despite no longer being relevant (DST might have made some sense when the primary energy cost was light) or even ever having made sense. They linger on because they exist even if no interest group is interested in them.

Matthew Yglesias points to a study that finds the primary rationale for DST has always been to promote energy conservation. Nevertheless, there is surprisingly little evidence that DST actually saves energy. we estimate a cost of increased electricity bills to Indiana households of $9 million per year. We also estimate social ...