IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/jecrev/v72y2021i2d10.1007_s42973-019-00029-4.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Simultaneous optimization of multiple taxes on car use and tolls considering the marginal cost of public funds in Japan

Author

Listed:
  • Tatsuhito Kono

    (Tohoku University)

  • Yohei Mitsuhiro

    (Tohoku University)

  • Jun Yoshida

    (Kyushu University)

Abstract

We simultaneously optimize multiple tax instruments (fuel tax, car-ownership tax, and tolls) when these instruments are used as public funds with distortionary labor tax, accounting for pollution, congestion, accident externalities, and fiscal constraints of the tax-related agency and the toll-collecting agency. We quantitatively optimize taxes and tolls using parameters for Japan under three scenarios: (1) imposition of peak and off-peak tolls at different rates and simultaneous optimization of all tax instruments; (2) optimization of only car-related taxes without consolidation of the toll-collecting agency’s fiscal constraints; (3) optimization of only fuel tax. We find that peak toll and fuel tax should be higher, and off-peak toll and car-ownership tax should be lower than the current rate under Scenario 1. Scenarios 1 can improve welfare by 1000 to 2400 dollars/car, and Scenarios 2 and 3 can achieve more than 90% and 20–60% of the welfare gain in Scenario 1, respectively.

Suggested Citation

  • Tatsuhito Kono & Yohei Mitsuhiro & Jun Yoshida, 2021. "Simultaneous optimization of multiple taxes on car use and tolls considering the marginal cost of public funds in Japan," The Japanese Economic Review, Springer, vol. 72(2), pages 261-297, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jecrev:v:72:y:2021:i:2:d:10.1007_s42973-019-00029-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s42973-019-00029-4
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s42973-019-00029-4
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s42973-019-00029-4?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Small, K.A. & Kazimi, C., 1994. "On the Costs of Air Pollution from Motor Vehicules," Papers 94-95-3, California Irvine - School of Social Sciences.
    2. Tol, Richard S. J., 2005. "The marginal damage costs of carbon dioxide emissions: an assessment of the uncertainties," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 33(16), pages 2064-2074, November.
    3. Bovenberg, A Lans & Goulder, Lawrence H, 1996. "Optimal Environmental Taxation in the Presence of Other Taxes: General-Equilibrium Analyses," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 86(4), pages 985-1000, September.
    4. de Bovenberg, A Lans & Mooij, Ruud A, 1994. "Environmental Levies and Distortionary Taxation," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 84(4), pages 1085-1089, September.
    5. Jacobs, Bas & de Mooij, Ruud A., 2015. "Pigou meets Mirrlees: On the irrelevance of tax distortions for the second-best Pigouvian tax," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 90-108.
    6. De Borger, Bruno, 2001. "Discrete choice models and optimal two-part tariffs in the presence of externalities: optimal taxation of cars," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 31(4), pages 471-504, July.
    7. Gianmarco Ottaviano & Takatoshi Tabuchi & Jacques-François Thisse, 2021. "Agglomeration And Trade Revisited," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: Firms and Workers in a Globalized World Larger Markets, Tougher Competition, chapter 3, pages 59-85, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
    8. Bovenberg, A.L. & Goulder, L.H., 1996. "Optimal environmental taxation in the presence of other taxes : General equilibrium analyses," Other publications TiSEM 5d4b7517-c5c8-4ef6-ab76-3, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    9. Tsuneki, Atsushi, 1987. "The measurement of waste in a public goods economy," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 33(1), pages 73-94, June.
    10. West, Sarah E. & Williams III, Roberton C., 2007. "Optimal taxation and cross-price effects on labor supply: Estimates of the optimal gas tax," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 91(3-4), pages 593-617, April.
    11. Fullerton Don & West Sarah E, 2010. "Tax and Subsidy Combinations for the Control of Car Pollution," The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 10(1), pages 1-33, February.
    12. Auerbach, Alan J. & Hines, James Jr., 2002. "Taxation and economic efficiency," Handbook of Public Economics, in: A. J. Auerbach & M. Feldstein (ed.), Handbook of Public Economics, edition 1, volume 3, chapter 21, pages 1347-1421, Elsevier.
    13. Harberger, Arnold C, 1971. "Three Basic Postulates for Applied Welfare Economics: An Interpretive Essay," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 9(3), pages 785-797, September.
    14. Ian W. H. Parry & Kenneth A. Small, 2005. "Does Britain or the United States Have the Right Gasoline Tax?," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 95(4), pages 1276-1289, September.
    15. Inge Mayeres & Stef Proost, 1997. "Optimal Tax and Public Investment Rules for Congestion Type of Externalities," Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 99(2), pages 261-279, June.
    16. Parry, Ian W. H., 2004. "Comparing alternative policies to reduce traffic accidents," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 56(2), pages 346-368, September.
    17. Ian W. H. Parry & Margaret Walls & Winston Harrington, 2007. "Automobile Externalities and Policies," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 45(2), pages 373-399, June.
    18. De Borger, Bruno & Mayeres, Inge, 2007. "Optimal taxation of car ownership, car use and public transport: Insights derived from a discrete choice numerical optimization model," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 51(5), pages 1177-1204, July.
    19. Kono, Tatsuhito & Kishi, Akio, 2018. "What is an appropriate welfare measure for efficiency of local public policies inducing migration?," Mathematical Social Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 25-35.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Domon, Shohei & Hirota, Mayu & Kono, Tatsuhito & Managi, Shunsuke & Matsuki, Yusuke, 2020. "Congestion Tolls Efficiently Reduce CO2 Emissions from Homes in addition to Urban Transportation in the Long Run," MPRA Paper 102220, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Doi, Naoshi & Kono, Tatsuhito & Suzaki, Izumo, 2023. "Optimizing Multiple Airport Charges with Endogenous Airline Quality Considering the Marginal Cost of Public Funds," MPRA Paper 116176, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Yoshida, Jun & Kono, Tatsuhito, 2020. "Optimal Car-related Taxes and Pricing in Beijing Considering the Marginal Cost of Public Funds," MPRA Paper 101728, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Joto, Keigo & Konagane, Joji & Kono, Tatsuhito & Kuwahara, Masao, 2020. "Optimal Location-dependent Pricing Policies on Railways and Roads in a Continuous City," MPRA Paper 100446, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    5. Domon, Shohei & Hirota, Mayu & Kono, Tatsuhito & Managi, Shunsuke & Matsuki, Yusuke, 2022. "The long-run effects of congestion tolls, carbon tax, and land use regulations on urban CO2 emissions," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    6. Shilpa Dogra & Nicholas O’Rourke & Michael Jenkins & Daniel Hoornweg, 2021. "Integrated Urban Mobility for Our Health and the Climate: Recommended Approaches from an Interdisciplinary Consortium," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-12, November.
    7. Börjesson, Maria & Asplund, Disa & Hamilton, Carl, 2023. "Optimal kilometre tax for electric vehicles," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 52-64.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Santos, Georgina & Behrendt, Hannah & Maconi, Laura & Shirvani, Tara & Teytelboym, Alexander, 2010. "Part I: Externalities and economic policies in road transport," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 28(1), pages 2-45.
    2. Tscharaktschiew, Stefan, 2014. "Shedding light on the appropriateness of the (high) gasoline tax level in Germany," Economics of Transportation, Elsevier, vol. 3(3), pages 189-210.
    3. Antón-Sarabia, Arturo & Hernández-Trillo, Fausto, 2014. "Optimal gasoline tax in developing, oil-producing countries: The case of Mexico," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 564-571.
    4. Tscharaktschiew, Stefan, 2020. "Why are highway speed limits really justified? An equilibrium speed choice analysis," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 317-351.
    5. Yoshida, Jun & Kono, Tatsuhito, 2020. "Optimal Car-related Taxes and Pricing in Beijing Considering the Marginal Cost of Public Funds," MPRA Paper 101728, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Arturo Antón Sarabia & Fausto Hernández Trillo, 2019. "Internalizando externalidades: El impuesto a la gasolina en Guatemala," Remef - Revista Mexicana de Economía y Finanzas Nueva Época REMEF (The Mexican Journal of Economics and Finance), Instituto Mexicano de Ejecutivos de Finanzas, IMEF, vol. 14(1), pages 1-20, Enero-Mar.
    7. Ian W.H. Parry & Mr. John Norregaard & Mr. Dirk Heine, 2012. "Environmental Tax Reform: Principles from Theory and Practice to Date," IMF Working Papers 2012/180, International Monetary Fund.
    8. : Eduardo L. Giménez (a) & Miguel Rodríguez, "undated". "Pigou’S Dividend Versus Ramsey’S Dividend In The Double Dividend Literature," Working Papers 2-06 Classification-JEL :, Instituto de Estudios Fiscales.
    9. Ian W. H. Parry & Kenneth A. Small, 2005. "Does Britain or the United States Have the Right Gasoline Tax?," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 95(4), pages 1276-1289, September.
    10. Borger, Bruno De, 2011. "Optimal congestion taxes in a time allocation model," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 45(1), pages 79-95, January.
    11. Geir H. M. Bjertnaes, 2017. "The Efficient Combination of Taxes on Fuel and Vehicles," CESifo Working Paper Series 6789, CESifo.
    12. Geir H. M. Bjertnæs, 2017. "The efficient combination of taxes on fuel and vehicles," Discussion Papers 867, Statistics Norway, Research Department.
    13. Georg Hirte & Stefan Tscharaktschiew, 2015. "Optimal Fuel Taxes and Heterogeneity of Cities," Review of Regional Research: Jahrbuch für Regionalwissenschaft, Springer;Gesellschaft für Regionalforschung (GfR), vol. 35(2), pages 173-209, October.
    14. Franziska Klein & Jeroen van den Bergh, 2021. "The employment double dividend of environmental tax reforms: exploring the role of agent behaviour and social interaction," Journal of Environmental Economics and Policy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 10(2), pages 189-213, April.
    15. Tscharaktschiew, Stefan & Hirte, Georg, 2010. "The drawbacks and opportunities of carbon charges in metropolitan areas -- A spatial general equilibrium approach," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 70(2), pages 339-357, December.
    16. Giménez, Eduardo L. & Rodríguez, Miguel, 2010. "Reevaluating the first and the second dividends of environmental tax reforms," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(11), pages 6654-6661, November.
    17. Geir H. M. Bjertnæs, 2021. "Taxation of fuel and vehicles when emissions are constrained," Discussion Papers 949, Statistics Norway, Research Department.
    18. Bjertnæs, Geir H.M., 2023. "Taxation of fuel and vehicles when emissions are constrained," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    19. Anas, Alex, 2020. "The cost of congestion and the benefits of congestion pricing: A general equilibrium analysis," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 110-137.
    20. Allcott, Hunt & Mullainathan, Sendhil & Taubinsky, Dmitry, 2014. "Energy policy with externalities and internalities," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 72-88.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Optimal taxation; Marginal cost of public funds; Toll; Fuel tax; Car-ownership tax; Externality;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H21 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Efficiency; Optimal Taxation
    • H23 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Externalities; Redistributive Effects; Environmental Taxes and Subsidies
    • R48 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics - - - Government Pricing and Policy

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:jecrev:v:72:y:2021:i:2:d:10.1007_s42973-019-00029-4. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.