Shocker: Green Jobs Kill Real Jobs And Income

05 Sep, 2011 by William Teach

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As we approach the time of Obama’s wishy washy jobs whine, we can surely assume that it will include lots of bloviating for more green jobs. And yet another study shows that the government push for these kills real jobs

The UK’s headlong rush into renewable energy —one ignored by the rest of the world —will hit British jobs and then general incomes, an economic study finds.

The report, The Myth of Green Jobs by economist Professor Gordon Hughes of Edinburgh University, examines the long-term impacts of subsidising expensive “green” renewable energy projects. It says that if the UK continues to do so, it will lose 2 to 3 per cent GDP a year for around 20 years. If reducing CO emissions is your goal, says Hughes, your economy really can’t afford renewable energy.

How does he get to this figure?

He explains that one reason is that labour inputs are a cost, not a benefit. This is common sense: the goal for a productive economy is to have the highest value creation at the lowest cost. If your workforce is mostly employed doing the basics, such as cultivating manglewurzels, it is going to have fewer doctors, teachers or rocket scientists. North Korea is a good example. Or, for the same cost, you can have a cleaner environment.

Thing is, there is nothing wrong with green and clean jobs. But, the demand in the private market should dictate their creation, not the whim of the government.