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Better safe than sorry? Evidence from Lanzhou's driving restriction policy

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  • Ye, Jingjing

Abstract

Driving restriction policies (DRPs) have been adopted worldwide to curb traffic congestion and air pollution. However, the empirical evidence of the effectiveness of such policies in improving air quality remains mixed (e.g., Davis, 2008; Viard & Fu, 2015). Individuals may change their commute schedules/routes or hire/purchase additional vehicles to circumvent such restrictions. This paper addresses this possibility by utilizing hourly measurements of air pollutants from monitoring stations at Lanzhou, one of the most polluted cities in China. Utilizing a regression discontinuity design (RD) approach, we concluded that the driving restrictions in Lanzhou are ineffective in improving its air quality. Specific hour and location results suggest that drivers shift their travel schedules, take detours, and acquire alternative vehicles. The results are robust after considering alternative model specifications and sample restrictions.

Suggested Citation

  • Ye, Jingjing, 2017. "Better safe than sorry? Evidence from Lanzhou's driving restriction policy," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 1-21.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:chieco:v:45:y:2017:i:c:p:1-21
    DOI: 10.1016/j.chieco.2017.05.009
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Zhang, Xiaodong & Yang, Qi & Xu, Xiaoqing & Sun, Qipeng & Mao, Xinhua, 2024. "Have mixed traffic restrictions improved air quality in different regions?," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 139-148.
    2. Wenbo Meng, 2022. "Understanding the Heterogeneity in the Effect of Driving Restriction Policies on Air Quality: Evidence from Chinese Cities," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 82(1), pages 133-175, May.
    3. Li, Ling & Yang, Linchuan, 2023. "Effects of driving restrictions on air quality and housing prices: Evidence from Chengdu, China," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    4. Mauricio Villamizar‐Villegas & Freddy A. Pinzon‐Puerto & Maria Alejandra Ruiz‐Sanchez, 2022. "A comprehensive history of regression discontinuity designs: An empirical survey of the last 60 years," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 36(4), pages 1130-1178, September.
    5. Fu, Yifan & Zhong, Shiquan & Ling, Shuai & He, Zhengbing, 2024. "Closing the loophole of vehicle ownership restriction: The impact of non-local vehicle restriction on new vehicle registrations and air pollution," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 185(C).
    6. Yuan Liang & Quan Yuan & Daoge Wang & Yong Feng & Pengfei Xu & Jiangping Zhou, 2022. "Panacea or Placebo? Exploring Causal Effects of Nonlocal Vehicle Driving Restriction Policies on Traffic Congestion Using Difference-in-differences Approach," Papers 2208.11577, arXiv.org, revised Jan 2023.
    7. Yuan Liang & Quan Yuan & Daoge Wang & Yong Feng & Pengfei Xu & Jiangping Zhou, 2024. "Panacea or placebo? Exploring the causal effects of nonlocal vehicle driving restriction policies on traffic congestion using a difference-in-differences approach," Transportation, Springer, vol. 51(6), pages 2253-2275, December.
    8. Zhang, Jin & Shi, Dan & Ma, Lianrui & Wu, Yuan & Liu, Shoulin & Li, Jinkai, 2024. "The role of household energy consumption behavior in environmental policy outcomes —the case of driving restriction policy in zhengzhou," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    9. Suchi Kapoor Malhotra & Howard White & Nina Ashley O. Dela Cruz & Ashrita Saran & John Eyers & Denny John & Ella Beveridge & Nina Blöndal, 2021. "Studies of the effectiveness of transport sector interventions in low‐ and middle‐income countries: An evidence and gap map," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 17(4), December.
    10. Chen, Dongxu & Sun, Yu & Yang, Zhongzhen, 2020. "Optimization of the travel ban scheme of cars based on the spatial distribution of the last digit of license plates," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 43-53.
    11. Soto, Jose J. & Macea, Luis F. & Cantillo, Victor, 2023. "Analysing a license plate-based vehicle restriction policy with optional exemption charge: The case in Cali, Colombia," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).
    12. Ye, Jingjing & Qin, Zhilong & Chen, Xiaoguang, 2021. "Adapt by adopting cleaner vehicles? — Evidence from a low-emission zone policy in Nanchang, China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Driving restriction policy; Air pollution; Regression discontinuity design;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H43 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Project Evaluation; Social Discount Rate
    • Q53 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling
    • Q58 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Government Policy
    • R48 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics - - - Government Pricing and Policy

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