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Drivers’ response to fuel taxes and efficiency standards: evidence from Germany

Author

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  • Manuel Frondel

    (RWI Leibniz Institute for Economic Research
    Ruhr University Bochum)

  • Colin Vance

    (RWI Leibniz Institute for Economic Research
    Jacobs University Bremen)

Abstract

Using household travel diary data collected in Germany between 1997 and 2015, we employ an instrumental variable (IV) approach that enables us to consistently estimate both fuel price and efficiency elasticities. The aim is to gauge the relative impacts of fuel economy standards and fuel taxes on distance traveled. Our elasticity estimates indicate that higher fuel prices reduce driving to a substantial extent, though not to the same degree as higher fuel efficiency increases driving. This finding indicates an offsetting effect of fuel efficiency standards on the effectiveness of fuel taxation, calling into question the efficacy of the European Commission’s legislation to limit carbon dioxide emissions for new cars.

Suggested Citation

  • Manuel Frondel & Colin Vance, 2018. "Drivers’ response to fuel taxes and efficiency standards: evidence from Germany," Transportation, Springer, vol. 45(3), pages 989-1001, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:transp:v:45:y:2018:i:3:d:10.1007_s11116-017-9759-1
    DOI: 10.1007/s11116-017-9759-1
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    Cited by:

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    2. Frondel, Manuel, 2019. "CO2-Bepreisung in den nicht in den Emissionshandel integrierten Sektoren: Optionen für eine sozial ausgewogene Ausgestaltung," RWI Materialien 130, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung.
    3. Gustavo A. Marrero & Jesús Rodríguez-López & Rosa Marina González, 2020. "Car usage, $${\text {CO}}_{2}$$CO2 emissions and fuel taxes in Europe," SERIEs: Journal of the Spanish Economic Association, Springer;Spanish Economic Association, vol. 11(2), pages 203-241, June.
    4. Flintz, Joschka & Frondel, Manuel & Horvath, Marco, 2022. "Emissionswirkungen der 2021 reformierten Kfz-Steuer: Eine empirische Analyse," RWI Materialien 154, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung.
    5. Frondel, Manuel & Schubert, Stefanie A., 2021. "Carbon pricing in Germany's road transport and housing sector: Options for reimbursing carbon revenues," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    6. Frondel, Manuel & Marggraf, Clemens & Sommer, Stephan & Vance, Colin, 2021. "Reducing vehicle cold start emissions through carbon pricing: Evidence from Germany," Ruhr Economic Papers 896, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen.
    7. Frondel, Manuel, 2024. "CO₂-Bepreisung in Deutschland: Die Einnahmen endlich zurückgeben, aber nicht in Form eines Klimageldes," RWI Materialien 160, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung.
    8. Joschka Flintz & Manuel Frondel & Marco Horvath, 2022. "Emissionswirkungen der 2021 reformierten Kfz-Steuer: Eine empirische Analyse [Emissions effects of the german vehicle tax: an empirical analysis]," AStA Wirtschafts- und Sozialstatistisches Archiv, Springer;Deutsche Statistische Gesellschaft - German Statistical Society, vol. 16(3), pages 255-276, December.
    9. Eßer, Jana & Frondel, Manuel & Sommer, Stephan & Wittmann, Julia, 2023. "CO₂-Bepreisung in Deutschland: Kenntnisstand privater Haushalte im Jahr 2022," RWI Materialien 157, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung.
    10. Frondel, Manuel & Thomas, Tobias, 2020. "Dekarbonisierung bis zum Jahr 2050? Klimapolitische Maßnahmen und Energieprognosen für Deutschland, Österreich und die Schweiz," Research Papers 13, EcoAustria – Institute for Economic Research.
    11. Alberini, Anna & Horvath, Marco & Vance, Colin, 2021. "Drive less, drive better, or both? Behavioral adjustments to fuel price changes in Germany," Ruhr Economic Papers 892, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen.
    12. Colmenares, Gloria & Löschel, Andreas & Madlener, Reinhard, 2019. "The rebound effect and its representation in energy and climate models," CAWM Discussion Papers 106, University of Münster, Münster Center for Economic Policy (MEP).
    13. Edenhofer, Ottmar & Flachsland, Christian & Kalkuhl, Matthias & Knopf, Brigitte & Pahle, Michael, 2019. "Optionen für eine CO2-Preisreform," Working Papers 04/2019, German Council of Economic Experts / Sachverständigenrat zur Begutachtung der gesamtwirtschaftlichen Entwicklung.
    14. Alberini, Anna & Horvath, Marco & Vance, Colin, 2022. "Drive less, drive better, or both? Behavioral adjustments to fuel price changes in Germany," Resource and Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    15. Mario Liebensteiner & Jakob Losert & Sarah Necker & Florian Neumeier & Jörg Paetzold & Sebastian Wichert, 2024. "Almost Fare Free: Impact of a Cheap Public Transport Ticket on Mobility Patterns and Infrastructure Quality," CESifo Working Paper Series 11229, CESifo.
    16. Dütschke, Elisabeth & Frondel, Manuel & Schleich, Joachim & Vance, Colin, 2018. "Moral licensing: Another source of rebound?," Ruhr Economic Papers 747, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Automobile travel; Instrumental variable approach; Rebound effect;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • Q41 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Demand and Supply; Prices

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