Amelia Vayda, Chapter 3, Question 2

Throughout chapter 3 Wheelan discusses the positive and negative externalities of large cars to smaller more environmentally friendly cars. He gives an example of a family with children who are more inclined to buy a large car not because it is environmentally friendly, but because it is safer in some aspects. The family gives a list of what they want in a car and most of them are for safety reasons, but they realize that their is no social benefit to them. They don't necessarily care if they are polluting more CO2 or even causing problems with asthmatic kids. They really only care about the car being the safest. Wheelan also discusses the ideas of incentives in the fact that people who buy larger cars should pay more tax on gas and for the size of the car because they are polluting more CO2 and are bringing greater risk to smaller cars if they are in an accident. This issue directly relates to me and my family mainly because in my family it is a rule that the car has to be a larger car like an SUV because it is safer on the road if you were to get into an accident. If I were in a smaller car like a Mini Cooper I would be placed in a dangerous spot if I were to get into an accident with a large SUV. This issue can also affect me now and in the future because when and if I have a family I would consider both positive and negative externalities on buying a larger car but put more emphasis on safety.