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on Transport Economics |
| By: | Christina Littlejohn; Stef Proost |
| Abstract: | The transport sector is the only sector where carbon emissions continue to grow. This has led policy makers to propose ambitious policies to reduce emissions in the car sector, in particular fuel efficiency standards, portfolio mandates for Electric Vehicles and purchase taxes or subsidies. A portfolio mandate describes a minimum quota of annual electric vehicle sales. We use a two-period model for the car manufacturing sector to compare the cost efficiency of these policies. The model has gasoline fuelled cars (GV) compete with battery electric cars (EV). Both types of cars have endogenous technological progress that is triggered by environmental policies, including tradable fuel efficiency standards, portfolio mandates, carbon taxes, purchase taxes and R&D subsidies. EVs can serve as batteries that permit grid operators to shift off peak (renewable) electricity to peak hour supply. The model is calibrated to evaluate the EU policy to reduce average carbon emissions of cars by 37,5% in 2030. We assess the cost-efficiency of three types of policy instruments evaluating production costs, fuel costs, and externalities. We find that a fuel efficiency standard targeting gasoline cars achieves emission reductions at a much lower cost than a portfolio mandate for Electric cars. |
| Keywords: | electric vehicles, EU climate policy, climate change, portfolio mandate, R&D |
| JEL: | Q54 Q58 |
| Date: | 2019 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ces:ceswps:_7789&r=all |
| By: | Gu, Yewen (Dept. of Business and Management Science, Norwegian School of Economics); Goez, Julio C. (Dept. of Business and Management Science, Norwegian School of Economics); Mario, Guajardo (Dept. of Business and Management Science, Norwegian School of Economics); Wallace, Stein W. (Dept. of Business and Management Science, Norwegian School of Economics) |
| Abstract: | The growth in technology on autonomous transportation systems is currently motivating a number of research initiatives. This paper first presents a survey of the literature on autonomous marine vessels in general. By identifying the main research interests in this field, we define nine thematic categories. The collected articles are then classified according to these categories. We show that research on autonomous vessels has increased dramatically in the past decade. However, most of the published articles have focused on navigation control and safety issues. Studies regarding other topics, such as transport and logistics, are very limited. While our main interest is the literature on autonomous vessels, we contrast its development with respect to the literature on autonomous cars so as to have a better understanding about the future potentials in the research on autonomous vessels. The comparison shows that there are great opportunities for research about transportation and logistics with autonomous vessels. Finally, several potential research areas regarding logistics with autonomous vessels are proposed. As the technology behind remote-controlled or autonomous ships is maturing rapidly, we believe that it is already time for researchers in the field to start looking into future water-borne transport and logistics using autonomous vessels. |
| Keywords: | Autonomous ship; Autonomous Surface Vehicle; Unmanned Surface Vehicle; Survey |
| JEL: | C44 C60 Q50 Q53 |
| Date: | 2019–09–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hhs:nhhfms:2019_006&r=all |
| By: | Qian, Xiaodong; Niemeier, Deb |
| Abstract: | Bikeshare programs are increasingly popular in the United States, and they are an important part of sustainable transportation systems. They offer an alternative mode choice for many types of last-mile trips. Most of the current research on bikeshare focuses on benefits (e.g., how to replace auto trips with bike trips and reduce greenhouse gas emissions) and system management (e.g., bike repositioning between stations). Far less attention has been paid to the potential for bikeshare programs to provide greater access to jobs and essential services for underserved communities. To date, there is virtually no quantitative research aimed at designing bikeshare systems for underserved communities. To address this research gap, this study of two cities (Chicago and Philadelphia) first, examines whether bikeshare systems have targeted specific populations, and second, quantitatively assesses the potential for bikeshare systems to provide greater accessibility for underserved communities. View the NCST Project Webpage |
| Keywords: | Engineering, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Accessibility, Bicycle facilities, Bicycles, Capital investments, Demographics, Equity (Justice), Location, Socioeconomic factors, Vehicle sharing |
| Date: | 2019–08–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cdl:itsdav:qt3c16j41s&r=all |
| By: | Su, Chi; Nolan, James |
| Abstract: | Many previous studies of rail market power in bulk transportation either focus the analysis at a national level or apply methods to analyze railway market behavior that are not always reliable. While railroads often appear competitive over bulk movements when evaluated on a national level, we offer that any exertion of market or duopoly power by a railway—if present—would be most likely to occur in local or regional markets where there is limited to no intramodal or intermodal competition. In addition, much of the prior research on rail market behavior relies on estimated railroad (marginal) costs, which are themselves unreliable and in turn generate questionable assessments of actual railway market power. To help shed light on this issue with respect to U.S. wheat transportation, this research evaluates regional-level market structure changes in two separate, high-volume wheat transportation corridors served by a rail duopoly. These are: (1) wheat moving from North Dakota to Minnesota; and (2) wheat moving from Kansas/Oklahoma to Texas. By assessing the nature of duopoly market power in these particular rail markets, the analysis helps support and inform policies designed to improve transportation markets for more captive wheat and grain shippers. |
| Keywords: | Industrial Organization, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods |
| Date: | 2019–09–04 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:uskbpm:292343&r=all |
| By: | Wolfgang Kerber (Philipps University Marburg) |
| Abstract: | This paper analyses whether competition law can help to solve problems of access to data and interoperability in IoT ecosystems, where often one firm has exclusive control of the data produced by a smart device (and of the technical access to this device). Such a gatekeeper position can lead to the elimination of competition for after-market and other complementary services in such IoT ecosystems. This problem is analysed both from an economic and a legal perspective, and also generally for IoT ecosystems as well as for the much discussed problems of “access to in-vehicle data and resources†in connected cars, where the “extended vehicle†concept of the car manufacturers leads to such positions of exclusive control. The paper analyses, in particular, the competition rules about abusive behavior of dominant firms (Art. 102 TFEU) and of firms with “relative market power†(§ 20 (1) GWB) in German competition law. These provisions might offer (if appropriately applied and amended) at least some solutions for these data access problems. Competition law, however, might not be sufficient for dealing with all or most of these problems, i.e. that also additional solutions might be needed (data portability, direct data (access) rights, or sector-specific regulation). |
| Keywords: | data access, Internet of Things, data sharing, data access, competition, digital economy, connected cars |
| JEL: | K23 L62 L86 O33 |
| Date: | 2019 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:mar:magkse:201921&r=all |
| By: | Pestel, Nico (IZA); Wozny, Florian (IZA) |
| Abstract: | This paper studies health effects from restricting the access of high-emission vehicles to innercities by implementing Low Emission Zones. For identification, we exploit variation in the timing and the spatial distribution of the introduction of new Low Emission Zones across cities in Germany. We use detailed hospitalization data combined with geo-coded information on the coverage of Low Emission Zones. We find that Low Emission Zones significantly reduce levels of air pollution in urban areas and that these improvements in air quality translate into population health benefits. The number of diagnoses related to air pollution is significantly reduced for hospitals located within or in close proximity to a Low Emission Zone after it becomes effective. The results are mainly driven by reductions in chronic cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. |
| Keywords: | Low Emission Zone, air pollution, health, Germany |
| JEL: | I18 Q52 Q53 |
| Date: | 2019–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp12545&r=all |
| By: | Francesco Di Comite (European Council); Giovanni Mandras (European Commission - JRC); Stylianos Sakkas (European Commission - JRC) |
| Abstract: | This technical report illustrates a simulation performed to assess the likely economic impact of the Grand Paris Express investments on the Île-de-France and the other European Union regions, under the working assumption of a combined 1% increase in labour productivity due to better matching between skill supply and demand and a 1% increase in accessibility due to the project. Our simulations suggest an overall medium-term positive GDP impact for the EU as a whole (0.18%), for France (0.79%) and for Île-de-France (2.61%). |
| Keywords: | rhomolo, region, growth, spatial general equilibrium model, Grand Paris, investment, labour productivity, transportation cost |
| JEL: | C67 C68 R13 R58 |
| Date: | 2019–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ipt:termod:201908&r=all |