Creation of Employment

I overheard this conversation at work once. A goes, "Do you know why the government creates complicated tax laws?". B responds, "What do you mean?" A replies, "Well creating a complicated tax code is one way of generating employment. You create a new industry out of tax consultants, companies that write software to calculate taxes and many such other functions."

Could it be that governments take other decisions in a similar manner to increase employment? For instance cars vs public transportation. Clearly more public transportation is good for the environment. I had read about a conspiracy theory where car companies bought out the tram companies in many American metros and dismantled them altogether, so as to create demand for cars.

Having a thriving auto-industry sustains so many businesses. From the car manufacturing side, auto-designers, engineers, assembly workers and technicians. Car dealerships employ salesmen come in next for selling the car. More cars implies more accidents... Auto-insurance is a big business as well. Car repair is yet another industry which thrives with more cars around. Gas stations, road construction and repair, tollways, toll plazas, car breakers. I admit that having a thriving public transportation system does need lots of drivers, ticket checkers and such low-wage workers, but cars and allied businesses create much more employment, in my opinion. More cars also implies more fuel... and that's something that has brought oil wealth to various parts of the world.