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How efficiently do U.S. cities manage roadway congestion?

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  • Anthony Glass
  • Karligash Kenjegalieva
  • Robin Sickles

Abstract

We estimate efficiency and TFP growth for two measures of congestion and two measures of the monetary value of congestion for the largest 88 contiguous cities in the U.S. over the period 1982–2007. Using stochastic frontier analysis we find that the efficiency scores for congestion and the associated ranking of cities is sensitive to the measure of congestion. In contrast, the efficiency scores and rankings are robust for the two measures of the monetary value of congestion. Most importantly, for the most valid measure of congestion and both measures of the monetary value of congestion, we find that average TFP growth over the study period is characterized by an upward trend. This is an encouraging sign even though in all three cases growth is only zero or slightly less than zero at the end of the study period. We therefore conclude that policies which have been used towards the end of the study period such as providing incentives to carpool and encouraging employers to offer flexi-time and telecommuting arrangements appear to have been effective and should be implemented more widely. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2013

Suggested Citation

  • Anthony Glass & Karligash Kenjegalieva & Robin Sickles, 2013. "How efficiently do U.S. cities manage roadway congestion?," Journal of Productivity Analysis, Springer, vol. 40(3), pages 407-428, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jproda:v:40:y:2013:i:3:p:407-428
    DOI: 10.1007/s11123-012-0288-9
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    Cited by:

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    2. Morakinyo Adetutu & Anthony Glass & Karligash Kenjegalieva & Robin Sickles, 2015. "The effects of efficiency and TFP growth on pollution in Europe: a multistage spatial analysis," Journal of Productivity Analysis, Springer, vol. 43(3), pages 307-326, June.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Congestion; Monetary value of congestion; Panel data; Stochastic frontier analysis; Input distance function; TFP; C23; R41;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C23 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
    • R41 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics - - - Transportation: Demand, Supply, and Congestion; Travel Time; Safety and Accidents; Transportation Noise

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