Posted: 29 Aug 2012 10:45 AM PDT
MIT Sloan Prof. Christopher KnittelThe long drought will have real consequences for the nation’s food and energy markets. But it also creates an opportunity for Washington to take a hard look at the Bush-era mandate known as the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS), which requires that 10 percent of the gasoline we put in our cars be comprised of ethanol, most of which is made from corn.
Because both sides in the debate over the standard tend to exaggerate, we conducted extensive research into the issue. We conclude that the ethanol mandate has some significant negative consequences and few redeeming features. Even without a drought, the policy is inefficient; with a drought it is much worse. Two economic myths drive support for the ethanol mandate.
Read the full post at The Blog
Christopher Knittel is the William Barton Rogers Professor of Energy Economics at MIT Sloan School of Management
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