[PEN-L:1701] Re: oxygen for sale

["Jennifer C. Olmsted" <OLMSTED_J@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Jim Devine asked:

>
> I have read that smog-smuggered people can now purchase oxygen
> for a price in both Beijing and Mexico City. How common is this
> around the world.
>
> from Los Angeles, the home of smog,
>
> in pen-l solidarity,
>

I don't have any stats about actual markets for air, but I did see a
wonderful 'black' comedy many years ago in London called 'Gasping'
the scenario of which was the final victory of the neoclassical model
with markets for air.  By the end of the movie, the third world
countries were rigging huge fans to blow their clean air (which they
couldn't afford to keep) to the industrial countries.  I always use
that example in class and would love to get a copy of the play if
anyone else has seen or heard of it!  I also point out to my students
that we have already reached the first stage which the play
predicted, which is the selling of clean air in big cities such as
Mexico City!  I think I saw the play in the mid 80s and now conclude
that it is quite prophetic.  Scary world!!

Jennifer Olmsted
olmstedj@xxxxxxxxx