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Automobile Fuel Economy Standards: Impacts, Efficiency, and Alternatives

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Listed:
  • Anderson, Soren
  • Parry, Ian

    (Resources for the Future)

  • Sallee, James M.
  • Fischer, Carolyn

    (Resources for the Future)

Abstract

This paper discusses fuel economy regulations in the United States and other countries. We first describe how these programs affect fuel use and other dimensions of the vehicle fleet. We then review different methodologies for assessing the costs of fuel economy regulations and discuss the policy implications of the results. We also compare the welfare effects of fuel economy standards with those of fuel taxes and assess whether these two policies complement each other. Finally, we review arguments in favor of a “feebate” system, which imposes fees on inefficient vehicles and provides rebates for efficient vehicles.

Suggested Citation

  • Anderson, Soren & Parry, Ian & Sallee, James M. & Fischer, Carolyn, 2010. "Automobile Fuel Economy Standards: Impacts, Efficiency, and Alternatives," RFF Working Paper Series dp-10-45, Resources for the Future.
    • Handle: RePEc:rff:dpaper:dp-10-45
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    File URL: http://www.rff.org/RFF/documents/RFF-DP-10-45.pdf
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    fuel economy regulations; costs; welfare effects; climate change; feebates;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q48 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Government Policy
    • Q58 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Government Policy
    • H21 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Efficiency; Optimal Taxation
    • R48 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics - - - Government Pricing and Policy

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