Behind the pack

One of the major motivations for this blog was to understand how the rules of a given game determine the results, and how participants can better prepare themselves for adverse outcomes by understanding the class of behaviours the rules encourage. Subprime for instance was fundamentally caused by mis-aligned incentive structures.

A good example of a total failure to understand the rules comes from Porsche. They are threatening a legal challenge to London mayor Ken Livingstone's plans to demand a £25 congestion charge from drivers of high powered sports cars and 4x4s entering the capital. The congestion charge has been a huge success. Global warming is a major political issue which is not going away. If there is one thing Porsche could do to appear regressive and the choice of the selfish bore, suing Ken could well top the list. It looks to me like a PR gaffe equivalent to Ratner's 'total crap'.

If you want a fast car which won't make you appear egotistical, self-serving and totally without regard for others, perhaps you could try a Ferrari.

Or a Jag, as in this gorgeous, pre-Ford period XJ220:

Or even (if you must, given how terrible the suspension is as well as how polluting they are) a vintage Corvette:

Just don't buy a Porsche.

Update. Strangely enough, Matthew Lynn who I always thought of as a triffle reactionary, agrees with me.