2012 owners we are few....

[nookandcrannycar]

After reading post #14 on this thread, my brain started whirring thinking about regulation. I wonder what percentage of the cost of the average US spec Yaris is attributable to US Government regulation that is not required in other countries, and which different ratios would apply to which other countries? I was going to type other similar countries, but is any other country really similar to the US when it comes to driving? I have driven in Mexico, Canada, Ireland, Northern Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales, Italy, and Sweden (and have observed people driving in many other countries) and the overall experience in the US is still quite unique to me (and yes I know that Great Britain does include Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland, and England). I heard recently that if you take the profit Exxon Mobil made last quarter and figure it on a per gallon sold basis and then take the average gas taxes paid per gallon in the US, that the average per gallon tax amount is double that of Exxon Mobil's profit per gallon....although in many countries in Europe that ratio would be even more pronounced re taxes. Would the the percentage cost of government regulation be lower in some countries in Asia and even elsewhere? Not questions that can be answered without research and the proper data. I wonder if any think tank or research organization has done any research along these lines, although a smart blogger might be able to pull the information together. The clamor for less US Government regulation by many people certainly makes the subject topical. I would think other similar cars would likely be included in any research done by a non Toyota or non Toyota sponsored entity.