Fascinating, yes, but why is it happening?

The Observer treats us to a story on the music scene of car smugglers into Bolivia. No, it is interesting, who can fail to be fascinated by the rich variety of our species?

The one thing we thought a little odd though was that there is no explanation of why there are car smugglers into Bolivia, why there is this subculture which has a music scene? Britain does not have such groupings arguing over Ed Sheeran v Dua Lipa nor even the relative merits of drill or grime to smuggle automobiles to.

The answer being that the groups are - as should be obvious - created by the government.

Since December 2008, Supreme Decree 28963 has gradually reduced the age of vehicles that may be imported. Since December 2014, the maximum age of cars permitted for import is one model year old. Additionally, Bolivia has prohibited the importation of diesel vehicles with engine displacement smaller than 4,000 cubic centimeters, all vehicles that use liquefied petroleum gas, and cars with right side steering.

Immediately making a market for several year old right hand drive small engined diesels. There are also substantial taxes, up to 50% we seem to see. There is local production of precisely and exactly zero vehicles so it’s not even that there’s a local industry being protected.

Someone, somewhere, thought it would be a good idea that Bolivians should not be allowed to have the cars that Bolivians wanted. So, the law was enacted and so Bolivians gain the cars they desire without the law.

We can’t help but think that it might not be simpler, even a better idea, to allow Bolivians their vehicles of choice. But then that would mean being a free and liberal society and apparently that would never do.