If you look at another issue of the same publication:

http://www.cato.org/pubs/regulation/....html#niskanen

You will see that there are a range of estimates on the cost of regulation
from $44B to $182B (1988 dollars) and most of these regulations have an
offsetting benefit to somebody. When the coal fired powerplant is required
to install pollution control equipment that is revenue to the supplier of
the equipment, their suppliers employment for their workers ect.
Additionally these costs must be netted out against the benefits. The
bottom line is that the cost of regulation to society is nowhere near $800B.

Mike
MU-2


"Tom S." wrote in message
...

"Mike Rapoport" wrote in message
nk.net...

"Tom S." wrote in message
...
I also think that we have to question your numbers particulaly
the $800B one. There are less than 100MM tax returns representing
~$4.5T
in
taxable income filed in the US each year. I find it hard to believe
that
$8,000 per family or over 15%$ of personal income is spent complying
with
various regulations.

Believe it. (Why does it require two incomes to live as well as it did
just
a couple generations ago...and don't confuse toys with REAL COSTS of
living).

$800B spread over 280M people is about $2400 per person, but it hits
higher
if what you buy comes out of manufacturing (more so than services).
The
cost
of regulation adds 50 cents to a gallon of gas, for instance, about
$25-50K
to the price of a house, about 25% to a grocery bill...

Please cite a credible source. Thanks.

Mike
MU-2
Here's a couple in just one issue (though others are spread around in
other
issues).

http://www.cato.org/pubs/regulation/...4/reg14n4.html