Some economists advance another theory - that high fuel taxes might be good for the economy overall.
Many motorists are struggling with fuel prices at their current peak, but the UK has not been afflicted by the same driver anguish as the USA.
If you compare the graphs of prices at the pumps in both countries, America's has sharp lines and points, Britain's oil price fluctuates in rather less aggressive curves.
And that's because the UK's price moves are buffered by high fuel tax.
Here's how.
Say for sake of illustration that the price of a gallon of petrol in Highfueltaxland is 25p and the tax on a gallon is £1. That makes petrol at the pumps £1.25.
Now say the price of petrol doubles to 50p. The driver at the pump in Hightaxland pays £1.50 - an increase of 20%.
The opposite extreme is Zerotaxland. There when the cost of oil doubles from 25p pence to 50p, the cost as the pump doubles too - sending a shock through the economy.
It hurts all the more because the Zerotaxland motorist hasn't budgeted for high fuel costs.
Many motorists are struggling with fuel prices at their current peak, but the UK has not been afflicted by the same driver anguish as the USA.
If you compare the graphs of prices at the pumps in both countries, America's has sharp lines and points, Britain's oil price fluctuates in rather less aggressive curves.
And that's because the UK's price moves are buffered by high fuel tax.
Here's how.
Say for sake of illustration that the price of a gallon of petrol in Highfueltaxland is 25p and the tax on a gallon is £1. That makes petrol at the pumps £1.25.
Now say the price of petrol doubles to 50p. The driver at the pump in Hightaxland pays £1.50 - an increase of 20%.
The opposite extreme is Zerotaxland. There when the cost of oil doubles from 25p pence to 50p, the cost as the pump doubles too - sending a shock through the economy.
It hurts all the more because the Zerotaxland motorist hasn't budgeted for high fuel costs.
So there you have it folks, Gordon is protecting us from sharply rising commodity prices by drowning them in tax.
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