Command and Control Solutions

What happened to the cleanliness of your clothes after the U.S. Department of Energy issued new washing machine requirements? The requirements — which require washers to use 21% less energy — mean that washers actually clean clothes less than they used to. Is “command and control" an efficient way to achieve the desired outcome (which is less pollution)? Rather than a standard requirement, such as the Department of Energy issued, a tax on electricity would provide users with greater flexibility in their washing—and would prompt people to purchase machines that use energy more efficiently and keep their clothes clean.

Are there times when a command and control solution to a problem makes the most sense? We look at the eradication of smallpox as one example.

Help us caption & translate this video!

[tobymiller]

I see a lot of comments disliking the photo which is a bit morbid. But im thankful you put it because it prompted me to read the entire smallpox entry on wikipedia and i learned quite a bit.

[ilovesalmon]

nice. I pay for college just to get sent to youtube videos that are completely free and teach 10x better than my professors! Capitalism baby!

[taiweifan]

that smallpox patient's photo make my flesh creep

[tylerwbullard]

Are you saying government can actually do good such as eradicate deadly viruses?

[abdulhaseeb]

pleas dont use such pictures
Over all great videos!

[sivonparansun]

The Plauge??? seriously less people than smallpox doubt ittt