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Distributional and efficiency Impacts of gasoline taxes: an econometrically based multi-market study

Author

Listed:
  • Antonio M Bento

    (Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management - UCAR - Université de Carthage (Tunisie))

  • Lawrence H Goulder

    (SIEPR - Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research - Stanford University)

  • Emeric Henry

    (ECON - Département d'économie (Sciences Po) - Sciences Po - Sciences Po - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

  • Mark R Jacobsen

    (Department of Economics - Tilburg University [Netherlands])

  • Roger H. Von Haefen

    (ARE - Agricultural and Resource Economics - NC State - North Carolina State University [Raleigh] - UNC - University of North Carolina System)

Abstract

This article examines the gasoline tax option being proposed in the U.S. in 2005, employing an econometrically based multi-market simulation model to explore the policy's efficiency and distributional implications. Because of its potential to improve the environment and enhance national security, reducing automobile-related gasoline consumption has become a major U.S. public policy issue. Policy impacts both in the aggregate and across households distinguished by income, car-ownership, and other characteristics were examined. Simulation results show that whether a gas-tax increase is regressive in its impact depends on the manner in which the tax revenues are recycled to the economy. The results also reveal significant heterogeneity in welfare impacts within household income groups, thus highlighting the importance of accounting for household heterogeneity in tastes and car-ownership in evaluating distributional impacts.

Suggested Citation

  • Antonio M Bento & Lawrence H Goulder & Emeric Henry & Mark R Jacobsen & Roger H. Von Haefen, 2005. "Distributional and efficiency Impacts of gasoline taxes: an econometrically based multi-market study," Post-Print hal-01045097, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-01045097
    DOI: 10.1257/000282805774670536
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://sciencespo.hal.science/hal-01045097
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    Cited by:

    1. Parry, Ian & Walls, Margaret & Sigman, Hilary & Williams III, Roberton, 2005. "The Incidence of Pollution Control Policies," RFF Working Paper Series dp-05-24, Resources for the Future.
    2. Agostini, Claudio A. & Jiménez, Johanna, 2015. "The distributional incidence of the gasoline tax in Chile," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 243-252.
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    5. Adam T. Jones, 2016. "Mileage tax, property tax, sales tax, or fee: the best way to pay for commercial infrastructure that isn’t free," Review of Regional Research: Jahrbuch für Regionalwissenschaft, Springer;Gesellschaft für Regionalforschung (GfR), vol. 36(1), pages 81-98, February.
    6. Brozovic, Nicholas & Ando, Amy Whritenour, 2009. "Defensive purchasing, the safety (dis)advantage of light trucks, and motor-vehicle policy effectiveness," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 43(5), pages 477-493, June.
    7. Chen, Haotian & Smyth, Russell & Zhang, Xibin, 2017. "A Bayesian sampling approach to measuring the price responsiveness of gasoline demand using a constrained partially linear model," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 346-354.
    8. Eliasson, Jonas & Pyddoke, Roger & Swärdh, Jan-Erik, 2018. "Distributional effects of taxes on car fuel, use, ownership and purchases," Economics of Transportation, Elsevier, vol. 15(C), pages 1-15.
    9. W. Ross Morrow & Steven J. Skerlos, 2011. "Fixed-Point Approaches to Computing Bertrand-Nash Equilibrium Prices Under Mixed-Logit Demand," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 59(2), pages 328-345, April.
    10. Claudio Agostini, 2010. "Efectos del Diferencial de Impuestos a las Gasolinas en la Demanda de Automóviles," ILADES-UAH Working Papers inv243, Universidad Alberto Hurtado/School of Economics and Business.
    11. Schwerhoff, Gregor & Nguyen, Thang Dao & Edenhofer, Ottmar & Grimalda, Gianluca & Jakob, Michael & Klenert, David & Siegmeier, Jan, 2017. "Policy options for a socially balanced climate policy," Economics - The Open-Access, Open-Assessment E-Journal (2007-2020), Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel), vol. 11, pages 1-11.
    12. David Klenert & Gregor Schwerhoff & Ottmar Edenhofer & Linus Mattauch, 2018. "Environmental Taxation, Inequality and Engel’s Law: The Double Dividend of Redistribution," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 71(3), pages 605-624, November.
    13. Timilsina, Govinda R. & Dulal, Hari B., 2008. "Fiscal policy instruments for reducing congestion and atmospheric emissions in the transport sector : a review," Policy Research Working Paper Series 4652, The World Bank.
    14. Richard Blundell & Joel L. Horowitz & Matthias Parey, 2009. "Measuring the price responsiveness of gasoline demand," CeMMAP working papers CWP11/09, Centre for Microdata Methods and Practice, Institute for Fiscal Studies.
    15. Ashley Langer & Nathan H. Miller, 2008. "Automobile Prices, Gasoline Prices, and Consumer Demand for Fuel Economy," EAG Discussions Papers 200811, Department of Justice, Antitrust Division.
    16. Claudio Agostini, 2012. "Incidencia Tributaria en el Mercado de las Gasolinas en Chile," Revista de Analisis Economico – Economic Analysis Review, Universidad Alberto Hurtado/School of Economics and Business, vol. 27(2), pages 55-73, October.
    17. Bureau, Benjamin, 2011. "Distributional effects of a carbon tax on car fuels in France," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 33(1), pages 121-130, January.
    18. Giménez-Nadal, J. Ignacio & Molina, José Alberto, 2019. "Green commuting and gasoline taxes in the United States," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 324-331.
    19. Lampin, Laure B.A. & Nadaud, Franck & Grazi, Fabio & Hourcade, Jean-Charles, 2013. "Long-term fuel demand: Not only a matter of fuel price," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 780-787.
    20. Elisheba Spiller & Heather Stephens & Christopher Timmins & Allison Smith, 2014. "The Effect of Gasoline Taxes and Public Transit Investments on Driving Patterns," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 59(4), pages 633-657, December.
    21. Araar, Abdelkrim & Dissou, Yazid & Duclos, Jean-Yves, 2011. "Household incidence of pollution control policies: A robust welfare analysis using general equilibrium effects," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 61(2), pages 227-243, March.
    22. Eliasson, Jonas, 2019. "Distributional effects of congestion charges and fuel taxes," MPRA Paper 94328, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    23. Nazneen Ferdous & Abdul Pinjari & Chandra Bhat & Ram Pendyala, 2010. "A comprehensive analysis of household transportation expenditures relative to other goods and services: an application to United States consumer expenditure data," Transportation, Springer, vol. 37(3), pages 363-390, May.
    24. Spiller, Elisheba & Stephens, Heather M. & Timmins, Christopher & Smith, Allison, 2012. "Does the Substitutability of Public Transit Affect Commuters’ Response to Gasoline Price Changes?," RFF Working Paper Series dp-12-29, Resources for the Future.

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