Vehicle miles (not) traveled: Fuel economy requirements, vehicle characteristics, and household driving

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: West, Jeremy; Hoekstra, Mark; Meer, Jonathan; Puller, Steven L.
• 署名单位: University of California System; University of California Santa Cruz; Texas A&M University System; Texas A&M University College Station; National Bureau of Economic Research
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF PUBLIC ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0047-2727
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpubeco.2016.09.009
• 发表日期: 2017
• 页码: 65-81
• 关键词: Fuel economy; Rebound effect; regression discontinuity

摘要

A major concern with addressing the negative externalities of gasoline consumption by regulating fuel economy, rather than increasing fuel taxes, is that households respond by driving more. This paper exploits a discrete threshold in the eligibility for Cash for Clunkers to show that fuel economy restrictions lead households to purchase vehicles that have lower cost-per-mile, but are also smaller and lower-performance. Whereas the former effect can increase driving, the latter effect can reduce it. Results indicate that these households do not drive more, suggesting that behavioral responses do not necessarily undermine the effectiveness of fuel economy restrictions at reducing gasoline consumption. (C) 2016 Published by Elsevier B.V.