The Problem With Spain's Green Jobs Model

Green energy sounds like a good idea, yet few consider its high cost. In this video we look at the green jobs model of Spain, one of the world's leaders in implementing green technology.

IER commissioned a study on Spain's green jobs program and found that for every green job created, 2.2 jobs were lost in other areas of the economy as an opportunity cost. What's worse, Spain spent $750,000 to create each green job, and only 1 in 10 of those green jobs were permanent. The rest disappeared after the initial construction phase.

That's not a long-term plan for growing an economy or job creation, and we should learn from Spain's green jobs experience.

You can read Calzada's study here: http://www.juandemariana.org/pdf/090327-employment-public-aid-renewable.pdf

Visit IER's website here: http://www.instituteforenergyresearch.org

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Spain
• green jobs
• 2.2 jobs
• green
• energy
• economics
• opportunity cost
• Calzada
• study
• After Effects
• technology

[DrBuzz0]

CO2 levels went up because these so-called "green" energy types do not produce very much energy at all but require massive fossil fueled construction operations and fossil fuel generators to back them up constantly. Spending billions on piddle power does not make sense.

There are ways to reduce emissions by a lot, but wind and solar fail in this regard. They're just too ineffective as energy sources and far too expensive.

[Romeowasbleeding1]

The economics is so simple, if only people didn't fall for the political nonsense. "green" energy doesn't make any economic sense yet, one day it just might. For now though it is nothing but a damaging sap on the economy. Looking at these comments is quite depressing, people just ranting from points of ignorance.

[senoner90]

@Romeowasbleeding1 I think there are certain ideals in life we should aim for, even though their benefit is not always obvious. Money is an instant benefit, but saving the environment is a long-term benefit. And if coming back to the theory that green energy takes away jobs...what jobs does it take away? How many people work in a nuclear plant? It does not need many people to push the button to switch the machines on or off.... I would like to see the sources..

[senoner90]

@Romeowasbleeding1 now calm down. I do indeed know that it is not good for the economy, I know what economic mentality is like. But my argument was that, probably money is not the only thing that makes us "wealthy". Green energy contributes to a better health, which in my opinion is also a sign of wealth. Money cannot prolong your life up to a certain limit, but cleaner air can.

[Romeowasbleeding1]

@senoner90 You also seem to be confused with how trade works. Mercantilism and the concept of protecting trade routes, such as the Gulf has been discredited (at least by people not ignorant of economics) for a few hundred years. I recommend you read Ludwig Von Mises' book Human Action it's a great A-Z of economic thought. Otherwise, you can just choose to rant from a point of ignorance as I mentioned before.

[Romeowasbleeding1]

@senoner90 My mentality is not selfish at all. What is selfish is forcing people to pay inefficient companies (through tax subsidies),thus restricting job growth due to increases in electricity prices and taxes, all for the sake of supporting industries that provide expensive and uncompetitive energy. You should have the right to choose to support what ever business you wish, be it green energy or anything else. Forced taxation and subsidies damages the country, and prevents this choice.

[Romeowasbleeding1]

@senoner90 2,2 jobs in opportunity costs. You obviously have no understanding of economics, otherwise you would know that directing wealth from its natural avenues to politically favoured and inefficient channels leads to a drop in societal wealth.

[senoner90]

@Romeowasbleeding1 well your mentality is very selfish, because you say we should only do what benefits our economy so we earn more money. But there are other important things in life. Green energy is very important, it makes us independent from oil imports, which again makes us more powerful. Think about it. It's not only about CO2. That's why China is investing so much in green energy. We would not have to fight wars in the Gulf anymore...

[senoner90]

well this guy is really oversimplifying things, it's like wind turbines are the only reason why unemployment is 20%, I don't think that everybody in Spain worked in a coal plant and lost their jobs.... there are many other reasons...

[iliveinspain313]

@sonhuanson,

Lo que tú dices no es un argumento. Es una acusación de demagogía, lo cual es una forma de demagogía. Por favor, dinos tus argumentos. Danos los datos. A lo mejor tienes razón pero nos tienes que decir por qué. A propósito, ¿no has notado en la factura de la empresa eléctrica (la mía es Iberdrola) que muchas veces más de la mitad de la factura tienen algo que ver con cobros que no son el coste de la energía?

[1Historygenius]

@electroconvulsive I wonder if you would be saying that when you get unemployed.