Been Quote by John Hutton
“And, in the past, it has been all too easy for legislators to load costs onto business in order to meet broader social goals. And costs for business means costs for consumers.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Parliamentary Debate, United Kingdom, 2018
Legislators often shift costs to businesses to achieve social aims, which then raise prices for consumers.
In simple terms: Policies can push costs onto businesses and consumers.
Key Takeaway
Consider cost impacts when designing policy.
Themes
policy
economics
social responsibility
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
political
economic
When to use this quote
- government budgeting
- business planning
- consumer pricing
- social welfare programs
Key Concepts
taxation
public finance
regulation
Questions to Reflect On
- Are there alternatives to cost shifting?
- How do social goals balance with market impacts?
A Different Perspective
May ignore long‑term economic effects.
