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Pigovian Transport Pricing in Practice

Author

Listed:
  • Hintermann, Beat

    (University of Basel)

  • Schoeman, Beaumont

    (University of Basel)

  • Molloy, Joseph
  • Götschi, Thomas
  • Castro, Alberto
  • Tchervenkov, Christopher
  • Tomic, Uros
  • Axhausen, Kay W.

Abstract

We implement Pigovian transport pricing in a field experiment in urban agglomerations of Switzerland over the course of 8 weeks. The pricing considers external costs from climate damages, health outcomes and congestion and varies across time, space and mode of transport. The treatment reduces the external costs of transport of the treated individuals by 4.5% in the short run. The main underlying mechanism is a shift away from driving towards other modes, such as public transport, walking and cycling. Providing information about external costs alone changes behavior of altruists, but not for the whole sample. We estimate the welfare improvements from such a policy to be around 140 US dollars per person and year, which is twice as large as the effects of a fuel tax that generates the same revenue.

Suggested Citation

  • Hintermann, Beat & Schoeman, Beaumont & Molloy, Joseph & Götschi, Thomas & Castro, Alberto & Tchervenkov, Christopher & Tomic, Uros & Axhausen, Kay W., 2021. "Pigovian Transport Pricing in Practice," Working papers 2021/11, Faculty of Business and Economics - University of Basel.
    • Handle: RePEc:bsl:wpaper:2021/11
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Burlig, Fiona & Preonas, Louis & Woerman, Matt, 2020. "Panel data and experimental design," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    Cited by:

    1. Hintermann, Beat & Schoeman, Beaumont & Molloy, Joseph & Schatzmann, Thomas & Tchervenkov, Christopher & Axhausen, Kay W., 2023. "The impact of COVID-19 on mobility choices in Switzerland," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    2. Gessner, Johannes & Habla, Wolfgang & Wagner, Ulrich J., 2023. "Can social comparisons and moral appeals increase public transport ridership and decrease car use?," ZEW Discussion Papers 23-003, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    3. Thommen, Christoph & Hintermann, Beat, 2023. "Price versus Commitment: Managing the demand for off-peak train tickets in a field experiment," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
    4. Minnich, Aljoscha, 2023. "Gamification in the transport sector: Quasi-experimental evidence from a bicycle navigation app," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    5. Tobias Eibinger & Hans Manner & Karl Steininger, 2024. "Shifting Gears? The Impact of Austria's Transport Policy Mix on CO2 Emissions from Passenger Cars," Graz Economics Papers 2024-10, University of Graz, Department of Economics.
    6. Lassi Ahlvik & Anna Sahari, 2023. "Promoting active transport through health information: evidence from a randomized controlled trial," Working Papers 16, Finnish Centre of Excellence in Tax Systems Research.
    7. Durrmeyer, Isis & Martinez, Nicolas, 2022. "The Welfare Consequences of Urban Traffic Regulations," TSE Working Papers 22-1378, Toulouse School of Economics (TSE).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Transport pricing; pigovian taxation; mobility; external costs; congestion; tracking.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H23 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Externalities; Redistributive Effects; Environmental Taxes and Subsidies
    • H31 - Public Economics - - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents - - - Household
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • Q52 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Pollution Control Adoption and Costs; Distributional Effects; Employment Effects
    • Q54 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Climate; Natural Disasters and their Management; Global Warming
    • R41 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics - - - Transportation: Demand, Supply, and Congestion; Travel Time; Safety and Accidents; Transportation Noise
    • R48 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics - - - Government Pricing and Policy

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