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An assessment of the social costs and benefits of vehicle tax reform in Ireland

Author

Listed:
  • Lisa Ryan

    (University College, Dublin)

  • Ivan Petrov

    (University College, Dublin)

  • Andrew Kelly

    (EnvEcon Decision Support)

  • Yulu Guo

    (University College, Dublin)

  • Sarah La Monaca

    (Columbia University)

Abstract

This paper presents the results of an ex post evaluation of the impacts of a vehicle tax reform in Ireland, by carrying out a full social cost benefit analysis of a vehicle tax reform that began in Ireland in 2008 and shows that whilst successful in improving the fuel economy of new passenger cars, it may also have caused unintended effects, such as an increased proliferation of diesel vehicles in the passenger car fleet. These outcomes have mitigated the overall benefits. In addition to quantifying the scale of the various effects and outcomes, this paper clearly demonstrates the importance of broad scope policy design.

Suggested Citation

  • Lisa Ryan & Ivan Petrov & Andrew Kelly & Yulu Guo & Sarah La Monaca, 2019. "An assessment of the social costs and benefits of vehicle tax reform in Ireland," OECD Environment Working Papers 153, OECD Publishing.
    • Handle: RePEc:oec:envaaa:153-en
    DOI: 10.1787/952e7bff-en
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    Cited by:

    1. L. (Lisa B.) Ryan & Ivan Petrov, 2019. "Vehicle Tax Design and Car Purchase Choices: A Case Study of Ireland," Open Access publications 10197/11466, School of Economics, University College Dublin.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    benefit-cost analysis; economic policy instruments; environmental economics; environmental tax reform; vehicle taxation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D61 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Allocative Efficiency; Cost-Benefit Analysis
    • H23 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Externalities; Redistributive Effects; Environmental Taxes and Subsidies
    • Q51 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Valuation of Environmental Effects
    • Q53 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling
    • R48 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics - - - Government Pricing and Policy

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