Ministry of Commerce and Labour Policy Reviews

Cabinet Secretary's Note - Below are the department's assessments for various proposed government policies. I have included our existing policies for comparison. Some policies will be harder to implement than others, and that is reflected in the 'political cost'; that is, the amount of political will there is to see it through. This amount will be deducted from the Political Capital available to the General Assembly as listed in the most recent annual report. Costings are correct as of the tabling of this review, but may vary from changes to population, wages, or national circumstances.

Reviews of Possible Changes to Existing Policy

Business Competition Regulations

Political Cost: Partially Favour Big Business 1, Exclusively Favour Big Business 2, Partially Favour Small Business 1, Exclusively Favour Small Business 2,
Cost Range: ₣5M - ₣10M
Favouring Big Business will:

Increase: Media Monopoly, Capitalist Opinion, Foreign Investment

Decrease: Self-Employed Opinion, Self-Employed Identity

Favouring Small Business will:

Increase: Self-Employed Opinion, Self-Employed Identity

Decrease: Media Monopoly, Capitalist Opinion, Foreign Investment

Industrial Action and Labour Rights

Political Cost: Lower to Exclusively Favour Employers 12, Raise to Balanced 16, Raise to Partially or Exclusively Favour Unions 32
Cost Range: ₣60M - ₣100M
Favouring Employers will:

Increase: Working Hours, Capitalist Opinion, Worker Productivity

Decrease: Socialist Opinion, Trade Unionist Opinion, Trade Union Membership, Socialist Identity, Wages

Favouring Unions will:

Increase: Socialist Opinion, Trade Unionist Opinion, Trade Union Membership, Socialist Identity, Wages

Decrease: Working Hours, Capitalist Opinion, Worker Productivity

Nuclear Reactor Policy

Political Cost: Lower to Decommission All Reactors 7, Raise to Extend Lifespan of Current Reactors 7, Raise to Expand Facilities or Allow New Reactors or Subsidise New Reactors 13
Cost Range: Up to ₣1,130M
Decommissioning Reactors will:

Increase: Environmentalist Opinion, Oil Demand, CO2 Emissions

Decrease: Technological Innovation, GDP

Expanding Reactors will:

Increase: Technological Innovation, GDP

Decrease: Environmentalist Opinion, Oil Demand, CO2 Emissions

Retirement Policy

Political Cost: Lower to 61-68 4, Lower to 69-70 2, Lower to 71 1, Raise to 73 4, Raise to 74-75 8
Cost Range: N/A
Lowering the Retirement Age will:

Increase: Trade Unionist Opinion, Retired Opinion, Retired Identity

Decrease: Worker Productivity, Unemployment

Raising the Retirement Age will:

Increase: Worker Productivity, Unemployment

Decrease: Trade Unionist Opinion, Retired Opinion, Retired Identity

New Policy Reviews

Agricultural Antibiotics Ban

Political Cost: Implement 12
Cost Range: Up to ₣9M
Implementing will

Increase: Environmentalist Opinion, National Health, Food Price Crisis

Decrease: Farmer Opinion, Capitalist Opinion, Farmer Income, Farmer Identity

Agricultural Subsidies

Political Cost: Implement 15
Cost Range: Up to ₣1,750M
Implementing will

Increase: Farmer Opinion, Farmer Income, Farmer Identity

Decrease: Food Price Crisis, Unemployment, Capitalist Opinion

Automated Stock Trading Limits

Political Cost: Implement 26
Cost Range: N/A
Implementing will

Decrease: Capitalist Opinion, Wealthy Class Opinion, Wealthy Class Income, Liberal Opinion, GDP

Become an International Tax Shelter

Political Cost: Implement 13
Cost Range: Up to ₣250M
Implementing will

Increase: Wealthy Class Opinion, Capitalist Opinion, Wealthy Class Income, Technological Innovation, GDP

Decrease: Socialist Opinion, Income Equality, Diplomatic Reputation

Carbon Capture and Storage Research Program

Political Cost: Implement 7
Cost Range: Up to ₣3,000M
Implementing will

Increase: Environmentalist Opinion

Decrease: CO2 Emissions

Clean Air and Pollution Controls

Political Cost: Implement 6
Cost Range: Up to ₣15M
Implementing will

Increase: Environmentalist Opinion

Decrease: Environmental Pollution, CO2 Emissions, Capitalist Opinion, GDP

Computerised Utility Smart Meter Program

Political Cost: Implement 4
Cost Range: Up to ₣450M
Implementing will

Increase: Environmentalist Opinion, Environmentalist Identity, Energy Efficiency

Decrease: Private and Public Energy Utility Usage

Consumer Rights Commission

Political Cost: Implement 14
Cost Range: Up to ₣5M
Implementing will

Increase: Liberal Opinion

Decrease: Capitalist Opinion, Self-Employed Opinion, GDP

Develop a National Space Program

Political Cost: Implement 24
Cost Range: ₣626M to ₣2,440M
Implementing will

Increase: Patriot Opinion, Patriot Identity, State Employee Opinion, Technological Innovation, Internet Access

Decrease: Unemployment, Religious Identity, Technology Crisis

Electronics Recycling Program

Political Cost: Implement 23
Cost Range: Up to ₣85M
Implementing will

Increase: Environmentalist Opinion, Energy Efficiency

Decrease: CO2 Emissions, Capitalist Opinion

Emergency Stimulus Fund

Political Cost: Implement 8
Cost Range: Free*
Implementing will

Increase: Inflation, Socialist Opinion, Poor Class Opinion, Poor Class Income, GDP

Decrease: Currency Strength, Poverty

Employee Representation Mandate on Corporate Boards

Political Cost: Implement 12
Cost Range: N/A
Implementing will

Increase: Trade Unionist Opinion, Trade Union Membership, Socialist Opinion, Socialist Identity

Decrease: Capitalist Opinion, Working Hours, Worker Productivity

===Employee Corporate Dividend Mandate Political Cost: Implement 22
Cost: ₣15M
Implementing will

Increase: Socialist Identity, Socialist Opinion, Poor Class Income, Trade Unionist Opinion,

Decrease: Capitalist Opinion, Self-Employed Opinion, Wealthy Class Income, Foreign Investment

Entrepreneurial Aide Agency

Political Cost: Implement 2
Cost Range: Up to ₣46M
Implementing will

Increase: Capitalist Opinion, Self-Employed Opinion, Self-Employed Identity

Decrease: Socialist Opinion

Ethnic Diversity Quotas

Political Cost: Implement 22
Cost Range: Up to ₣6M
Implementing will

Increase: Ethnic Minority Opinion, Civil Equality, Liberal Opinion

Decrease: Racial Tensions, Capitalist Opinion, Self-Employed Opinion

Foreign Investment Tax Credits

Political Cost: Implement 10
Cost Range: Up to ₣2,820M
Implementing will

Increase: Business Confidence, Wealthy Class Income, Diplomatic Reputation, Foreign Investment

Decrease: Patriot Opinion

Home Energy Efficiency Standards

Political Cost: Implement 10
Cost Range: Up to ₣75M
Implementing will

Increase: Environmentalist Opinion, Environmentalist Identity, Energy Efficiency

Decrease: CO2 Emissions, Capitalist Opinion, Public and Private Energy Utility Use

Institute a Minimum Wage

Political Cost: Implement 22
Cost Range: N/A
Implementing will

Increase: Poor Class Income, Unemployment, Income Equality, Socialist Opinion, Insulated Economy Crisis, Socialist Identity, Wages

Decrease: Poverty, Capitalist Opinion

International Capital Outflow Regulations

Political Cost: Implement 50
Cost Range: N/A
Implementing will

Increase: Socialist Opinion, Socialist Identity

Decrease: Emigration, Business Confidence, Foreign Investment, Capitalist Opinion, Wealthy Opinion

International Trade Commission

Political Cost: Implement 2
Cost Range: Up to ₣68M
Implementing will

Increase: International Trade, Diplomatic Reputation

Join the International Mars Mission Program

Political Cost: Implement 30
Cost Range: ₣2,400M to ₣7,400M
Implementing will

Increase: Patriot Opinion, Patriot Identity, State Employee Opinion, Technological Innovation

Decrease: Religious Identity, Unemployment

Labour Day Public Holiday

Political Cost: Implement 3
Cost Range: N/A
Implementing will

Increase: Socialist Opinion, Socialist Identity, Trade Unionist Opinion, Trade Union Membership

Decrease: GDP

Limit or Ban Coal

Political Cost: Implement 16
Cost Range: N/A
Implementing will

Increase: Environmentalist Opinion, Oil Demand

Decrease: Environmental Pollution, CO2 Emissions, Capitalist Opinion, Respiratory Disease Crisis, GDP

Limit Sunday Shopping

Political Cost: Implement 36
Cost Range: N/A
Implementing will

Increase: Religious Opinion, Trade Unionist Opinion

Decrease: Liberal Opinion, Liberal Identity, GDP

Mandatory Rooftop Solar Program

Political Cost: Implement 34
Cost Range: Up to ₣2M
Implementing will

Increase: Environmentalist Opinion Environmentalist Identity

Decrease: CO2 Emissions, Capitalist Opinion, Oil Demand, Environmental Pollution, Public and Private Energy Utility Use

National Business and Commerce Council

Political Cost: Implement 2
Cost Range: Up to ₣100M
Implementing will

Increase: Capitalist Opinion, GDP

Decrease: Socialist Identity

Occupational Health and Safety Regulations

Political Cost: Implement 4
Cost Range: Up to ₣34M
Implementing will

Increase: Trade Unionist Opinion, Trade Union Membership, National Health

Decrease: Self-Employed Opinion, Self-Employed Identity, Worker Productivity

Oil Drilling and Exploration Subsidies

Political Cost: Implement 36
Cost Range: Up to ₣15,500M
Implementing will

Increase: Oil Supply, CO2 Emissions, Foreign Investment, Energy Commerce, GDP

Decrease: Environmentalist Opinion, Environmentalist Identity

Parent Leave Payments

'Political Cost: Implement 13
Cost Range: Up to ₣1,250M
Implementing will

Increase: Parent Opinion, Parent Income, Parent Identity, Trade Unionist Opinion, Population Growth, Gender Equality

Decrease: Worker Productivity

Public Recycling Program

Political Cost: Implement 13
Cost Range: Up to ₣250M
Implementing will

Increase: Environmentalist Opinion, Environmentalist Identity

Decrease: Environmental Pollution

Quantitative Easing

Political Cost: Implement 12
Cost Range: Free*
Implementing will

Increase: Inflation, Capitalist Opinion, Wealthy Opinion, Wealthy Class Income, GDP

Decrease: Currency Strength

Rare Earth Metal Mining and Exploration Subsidies

Political Cost: Implement 32
Cost Range: Up to ₣3,000M
Implementing will

Increase: Worker Productivity, Patriot Opinion, Technological Innovation, Capitalist Opinion

Decrease: Environmentalist Opinion

Regulate CEO Pay

Political Cost: Implement 25
Cost Range: N/A
Implementing will

Increase: Socialist Opinion, Insulated Economy Crisis, Income Equality, Socialist Identity

Decrease: Capitalist Opinion, Wealthy Class Income, Wealthy Opinion

Renewable Energy Subsidies

Political Cost: Implement 2
Cost Range: Up to ₣263M
Implementing will

Increase: Environmentalist Opinion, Energy Commerce

Decrease: Capitalist Opinion, Oil Demand, Environmental Pollution, CO2 Emissions

Restrict Trade Union Activity

Political Cost: Implement 32
Cost Range: N/A
Implementing will

Increase: Worker Productivity, Working Hours, Capitalist Opinion

Decrease: Trade Unionist Opinion, Socialist Identity, Trade Union Membership, Wages

Robotics and AI Research Grants

Political Cost: Implement 6
Cost Range: Up to ₣1,320M
Implementing will

Increase: Technological Innovation, Industrial Automation

Decrease: Trade Unionist Opinion

Rural Community Development Grants

Political Cost: Implement 13
Cost Range: Up to ₣1,500M
Implementing will

Increase: Poor Income, Income Equality, Farmer Opinion, Farmer Identity, Car Usage, Railway Usage, GDP

Decrease: Unemployment

Small Business Grants

Political Cost: Implement 10
Cost Range: Up to ₣782M
Implementing will

Increase: Self-Employed Opinion, Capitalist Opinion, Self-Employed Identity, Self-Employed Income, Capitalist Income, GDP

Decrease: Socialist Identity, Trade Union Membership

State Energy Utility

Political Cost: Implement 11
Cost Range: Income of ₣1,140M to Expense of ₣6,000M
Implementing will

Increase: Socialist Opinion, Trade Unionist Opinion, Trade Union Membership, Socialist Identity, State Employee Identity, Worker Productivity, Government Corruption

Decrease: Private Energy Commerce, Capitalist Opinion, Poverty, Unemployment

State Telecommunications Utility

Political Cost: Implement 11
Cost Range: Income of ₣432M to Expense of ₣1,800M
Implementing will

Increase: Trade Unionist Opinion, Trade Union Membership, Socialist Identity, State Employee Identity, Internet Access, Government Corruption

Decrease: Private Telecoms Commerce, Capitalist Opinion, Poverty, Unemployment

Subsidies for Trade Unions

Political Cost: Implement 19
Cost Range: Up to ₣219M
Implementing will

Increase: Trade Unionist Opinion, Trade Union Membership, Trade Unionist Income, Socialist Identity, Wages

Decrease: Capitalist Opinion, Poverty, Unemployment

Technology Research Grants

Political Cost: Implement 10
Cost Range: Up to ₣720M
Implementing will

Increase: Technological Innovation, Worker Productivity, Capitalist Opinion, GDP

Decrease: Unemployment, Religious Identity

Urban and Suburban Farmland Subsidies

Political Cost: Implement 3
Cost Range: Up to ₣69M
Implementing will

Increase: Farmer Opinion, Farmer Identity

Vertical Farm and Greenhouse Research

Political Cost: Implement 16
Cost Range: Up to ₣1,130M
Implementing will

Increase: Farmer Opinion, Farmer Identity, Farmer Income

Decrease: Unemployment, Food Price Crisis, Traffic Congestion, Capitalist Opinion

Youth Entrepreneur Mentor Scheme

Political Cost: Implement 6
Cost Range: Up to ₣50M
Implementing will

Increase: Capitalist Opinion, Youth Opinion

Decrease: Socialist Identity