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Cars on crutches: How much abatement do smog check repairs actually provide?

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  • Mérel, Pierre
  • Smith, Aaron
  • Williams, Jeffrey
  • Wimberger, Emily

Abstract

Not as much abatement as has been presumed. Smog check programs aim to curb tailpipe emissions from in-use vehicles by requiring repairs whenever emissions, measured at regular time intervals, exceed a certain threshold. Using data from California, we estimate that on average 41% of the initial emissions abatement from repairs is lost by the time of the subsequent inspection, normally two years later. Our estimates imply that the cost per pound of pollution avoided is an order of magnitude greater for smog check repairs than alternative policies such as new-vehicle standards or emissions trading among industrial point sources.

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  • Mérel, Pierre & Smith, Aaron & Williams, Jeffrey & Wimberger, Emily, 2014. "Cars on crutches: How much abatement do smog check repairs actually provide?," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 67(3), pages 371-395.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jeeman:v:67:y:2014:i:3:p:371-395
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jeem.2013.12.006
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    Cited by:

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    2. Nicholas J. Sanders & Ryan Sandler, 2020. "Technology and the Effectiveness of Regulatory Programs over Time: Vehicle Emissions and Smog Checks with a Changing Fleet," Journal of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, University of Chicago Press, vol. 7(3), pages 587-618.
    3. Zhenhua Zhang & Guoxing Zhang & Shunfeng Song & Bin Su, 2020. "Spatial Heterogeneity Influences of Environmental Control and Informal Regulation on Air Pollutant Emissions in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-22, July.
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    5. Fraas, Arthur G. & Kopits, Elizabeth & Wolverton, Ann, 2021. "A Retrospective Review of Retrospective Cost Analyses," RFF Working Paper Series 21-29, Resources for the Future.

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