why countries taxed differently on gasoline especially discrepancy we see in Europe and United States?
449895
The simple economic principle of "Supply and Demand". This states that you charge more if it is a more wanted item. If there is a demand of it and a small supply then it is very valuable (like iPods and such) the people will charge you what ever they want because they know you need it. But if there is less demand and doesnt matter how much supply the producers will charge less as a means of selling their item (ie the sales been at store, nobody wants it so they sell it for cheap).\n\nRight now the war is slowing down how much oil can be exported which is making the supply drop. Not to mention that the oil compnies need to turn the crude oil into gasoline which cost money as well.
461481
It's called capitalism.  Supply and demand.  Those who have it sell it for as high a price as they can get.  Those who need it have to shop around for the lowest price they can.  Eventually, the gas gets so expensive people will have to walk or ride bikes.  Then fewer people buy it, and the price goes down.  In socialist countries, they put a $2 tax on it to encourage people to walk.\n\nBlowing people up starts wars.  People die.  Doesn't work out well in the long run.
1139132
I think that would be a marvelous idea.  That's the advantage Europeans have in dealing with high fuel prices.  My friends in the UK can get all their basic essentials and groceries within biking or walking distance of their residences.  I, for one, would love to have a neighborhood grocer.\n\nDisclaimer:  I come from a long line of independent grocers - my grandfather owned a small grocery store, as did his father and grandfather before him.  It's not my field, however, so the only way neighborhood groceries would affect me is by lowering my fuel costs.
164817
The role and function of the money in europe is no different then then the role and function of money elsewhere in the world. Its not because there are differnet currencies that the purpose of it is different. Ofcourse the value of it may vary to differnt standards of living.\nRoles of banks, and other financial facilities are the same as everywhere else in the world.
11708
So we can pay less then 3 dollars for a gallon of gas.  Every other nation pays twice that.  Italy is roughly 6.50 per gallon, while Japan pays about 20.00 per gallon.  If you own a car you would agree, if you own a truck with a V-8 you probably support the war.  If you own a Ferrari with a V-12 it doesnt matter anyway becasue you are rich.
993436
This seems to be the general consensus:\nBecause gas companies are trying to make money. By throwing that extra 9/10ths of a cent on the price it sounds 1 cent cheaper yet it is close to being 1 cent more. Say for instance that gas is $1.00 9/10ths per gallon (which is truly 1.009 per gallon) This is very cheap for gas but it will prove my point. Now if you bought 1 gallon, it would cost you $1. Now if you by 2 gallons you would expect it to cost $2. But it cost $2.02 because the 1.009 and the other 1.009 added give you 2.018 which in money rounds to 2.02 So by doing this the gas company is making two cents. This may sound like a small amount but most people buy more than 2 gallons and the .009s added up to make more cents. So if you bought 20 gallons of \ngas at $1 per gallon it would end up costing $20.21 roughly. For the millions of people buying gas this extra money turns into thousands of dollars. You may ask why not just make it $1.01 per gallon instead of $1.00 but this would make it sound like more money than!it is. It is just like stores charging 9.99 instead of 10.00. Nine \nsounds a lot better than ten and the same applies to gas companies. Its just the \ngas companies sneaky way of making more money.\n\n\nNOTE: despite my source, I don't think this was a stupid question.
613894
Sales tax is charged by State Government and thus the rates differs from state to state depending on their respective priorities and other factors.
172511
Fuel prices are set by OPEC (price per barrel.)  They are most reasonable in the US because our government subsidizes what we pay.  OPEC sucks, they won't allow any other petrol-bearing nations to offer a lesser fee.  They are too powerful.
432250
The main thing people will gripe about is that Canadian corporate tax is a few points higher than in the USA.  However, employers in the USA end up paying a lot of money out for health care, while in Canada the government covers most of that cost.  So it works out fairly evenly.
538898
People, gas prices are going higher because of one thing. DEMAND. I still see giant SUV's in traffic driven by one person. \n\nThe US has 5% of the worlds Population and we use 25% of the worlds resources. We are hogs and the Gas companies are making money from it. Also, the US Gov't taxes 46 cents per gallon thats more than the profit by the BIG OIL Co. They are the ones gouging the consumer.\n\nAnd in Europe they drive minis not Avalanches and Tundras and Armadas and any other vehicle named after the state that it is as big as like TAHOE !
620659
In comparison to other countries in Europe, we do not pay as much as them.  They do offer more social programs in exchange for the higher taxes.
607872
Taxes aren't necessarily higher in the UK than in other countries.  VAT here is 17.5% whereas in Ireland it is 21%. The rates of tax on income are 0%, 10%, 22% and 40%, whereas in Finland they are 0%, 10.5%, 15%, 20.5%, 26.5% and 33.5%, plus a municipal tax of between 10 and 20% PLUS a church tax (possible maximum total taxes 57%).  In the US, some people have the Federal Tax (country level), State Tax, Municipal Tax and School Taxes to pay.  Add to this the Social Insurance, Healthcare and other deductions and it' surprising anyone gets a take home pay at all!\n\nWe haven't got it as hard as some other places.  Haven't got it as easy as some either...
86348
Gasoline futures are wholesale prices and do not include taxes which are substantial. A future also has to account for storage and inteerst costs.
135488
You are asking about consumption (sales) taxes, I assume. States are already doing this, and the variances from state to state are great. It is NOT unconstitutional. \n\nFor example, I live in PA, where clothing, unprepared food, and medical services are not taxed, but most everything else is. Delaware has no sales tax. Florida taxes clothing.\n\nSometimes governments decide to increase taxes on things that they don't want people to do (look at cigarrette taxes) or things they know people will keep buying anyway (phone service and gasoline).\n\nFor those that would argue in favor if replacing income tax with a national sales tax, forget it! Bad Idea! Not only would we be pushing the cost of living up and creating a system fraught with opportunities for special interest groups to weasel in; retireees and those close to retirement would be screwed. Our current system revolves around saving for retirement by deferring income taxes and planning to be in a lower income tax bracket in retirement. Furthermore, tax free retirement plans (like the Roth IRA) will be doubly screwed since everything you buy with your "tax free" money will now be taxed.
183542
He is absoulutly right, gasoline in Mexico City right now is $.78. I looked it up on the net. You people that can't do metric conversions and monetary conversions, are the stupid people. Of course America is getting screwed for the cost of fuel. America pays the most to offset the rest of the World economics. The burden is on us, and always has been.
397625
In general gas prices are high due to the federal and state taxes piled on each gallon (24% last check).  We would be led to believe the technology does not exist to make other sources viable.  This is probably untrue, but the gas companies may have it all tied up.  The answer is we must push aside the environmental wackos and drill for our OWN oil.  There are thousands of years worth of supply in many parts to the US.  Canada does not buy foreign oil, in fact we buy some of ours from them.  All we need to do is start DRILLING.
784857
Its a flaming brillliant excuse!! Brown can get extra money into his coffers and tell the public that he is doing it for their own good in order to save the environment!! but more importantly one has to ask why the UK has the highest taxes on fuel in EU and second highest in the world whilst China USA russia have relatively low taxes on fuel... therefore would brown hiking up taxes on fuel in the UK really help the environment or just put our businesses and economy on an uneven and unfair playing field with the global market!! COnsider the cost of travel, production of goods i.e manfacturing and logistics compared to USA because of our high fuel prices.... High fuel taxes cause us to lose our competivitness.. and gives other coutries a competitive advantage