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ARGUABLY, CANADA WAS AMONG THE FIRST MODERN NATIONS. UNTIL RECENTLY, HISTORIANS OF CANADA HAVE PAID LITTLE ATTENTION TO THE IMPACT OF MODERNITY ON THE EMERGING NATION. THIS ARTICLE EXPLORES THE CITIES AND THEIR PROBLEMS, NEW STAPLES, MASS SOCIETY, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, AND PROGRESSIVE FORCES. IT PONDERS WHETHER A COUNTRY COMMITTED TO MODERNITY AT THE END OF THE MODERN PERIOD CAN ABANDON ITS INHERITANCE AND MAKE THE TRANSITION TO A POST-MODERN FUTURE.

*P.L. 392 The Localism Act 2011 (LA 2011) makes fundamental changes to the powers and arrangements of local authorities.1 Amongst these is the introduction of a general power of competence replacing the well-being power, in the Local Government Act 2000 (LGA 2000). This analysis explores the nature of this new power and the extent to which it serves local authorities more effectively than its predecessor. Whilst we focus chiefly on the wording of the relevant provisions and the manner in which they have been interpreted, this analysis acknowledges that wider issues, not for discussion here, have and can impact on the use of these powers.2 The LGA 2000 provided, at s.2(1), that every local authority3 had the power to do anything which it considered likely to achieve the promotion or improvement of the economic, social and environmental well-being of the local area.4 The provision was welcomed as providing "councils with an important opportunity to develop a meaningful and substantive community leadership role".5 It is, at first glance, a broad power allowing scope for local authorities to act as they choose, so long as it is for the benefit of their local area. Indeed, following the occasion*P.L. 393 of the power's first outing in the courts, Arden noted that "the scope of the provision is … wide",6 a view that was echoed by others.7 In R. (on the application of J (Ghanaian Citizen))v Enfield LBC,8 for example, Elias J. held that s.2 was "capable of extending to the grant of financial assistance for acquiring accommodation".

THIS PAPER ASSESSES RECENT PROPOSALS TO INCREASE TAXES AND TARIFFS IN THE ENERGY SECTOR TO REDUCE THE U.S. FEDERAL DEFICIT. THE PAPER ESTIMATES THE WELFARE, FISCAL AND EMPLOYMENT EFFECTS OF THE MOST COMMON PROPOSALS. THE ESTIMATES ARE DERIVED FROM A TWELVE-SECTOR GENERAL EQUILIBRIUM MODEL OF THE U.S. ECONOMY CALIBRATED TO 1984. A PROPOSED 25 PERCENT IMPORT TARIFF ON CRUDE OIL WOULD RAISE $7.3 BILLION IN GOVERNMENT REVENUE, WHILE A 15 PERCENT EXCISE TAX ON PETROLEUM PRODUCTS WOULD RAISE $35 BILLION. EACH DOLLAR OF GOVERNMENT REVENUE WOULD COME AT A LOSS OF 25 CENTS IN WELFARE IN THE FIRST CASE, BUT AT ONLY A ONE CENT LOSS IN WELFARE IN THE SECOND. THE PAPER ALSO ESTIMATES THE LEAST COSTLY (IN TERMS OF WELFARE) COMBINATION OF EXCISE TAXES AND IMPORT TARIFFS ON THE TWO SECTORS TO RAISE $20 BILLION IN GOVERNMENT REVENUE. THE OPTIMAL TAX STRUCTURE IS NONUNIFORM, INVOLVING BOTH TAXES AND IMPORT TARIFFS ON OIL, AND A TARIFF AND SMALL SUBSIDY ON PETROLEUM PRODUCTS TO COUNTERACT THE DISTORTION INDUCED BY THE TAXATION OF OIL.