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on Transport Economics |
| By: | Shigeru Matsumoto (Aoyama Gakuin University) |
| Abstract: | For the last several decades, governments have implemented various energy conservation measures aimed at reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector. Among these measures, the spread of next-generation vehicles as an immediate policy goal has been particularly emphasized in recent years. By implementing subsidy programs for a limited period of time, governments try to influence the behavior of households that have not previously considered purchasing the products that have desirable properties. However, no literature has yet identified the households that switched from conventional gasoline vehicles to HVs. In this study, we compare the vehicle choice between three sampling periods (before/during/after the Eco-Car rebate program) and examine whether the rebate program changed the customer base of HVs.For the empirical analysis, we use micro-level data from the Japanese National Survey of Family Income and Expenditure (NSFE), which was collected in 2009 and 2014. NSFE collects data on households? socioeconomic characteristics, such as income/expenditure, savings/liabilities, and ownership of durable goods, as well as information related to houses, such as dwelling characteristics and site area. In addition, NSFE also collects vehicle-related information such as the number of vehicles owned, the year of purchase of each vehicle, and the type of vehicle.The empirical results by multinomial logit analysis demonstrate that the likelihood of HV selection increased substantially during the program period and remained at a high level after the program ended. We also find that households with large net wealth purchased HVs during the Eco-Car program period. Finally, we find that households having a higher income used to purchase HVs earlier. However, income has come to play a less important role in the choice between a HV and SGV after the end of the Eco-Car program. |
| Keywords: | Eco-Car rebate program, Hybrid Vehicle, Japanese National Survey of Family Income and Expenditure, Multinomial Logit Analysis |
| JEL: | O33 Q48 R20 |
| Date: | 2019–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:9811334&r=all |
| By: | Pudāne, Baiba |
| Abstract: | The enhanced possibility to perform non-driving activities in automated vehicles (AVs) may not only decrease the disutility of travel, but also change the AV users’ departure time preferences, thereby affecting traffic congestion. Depending on the AV interior, travellers may be able to perform in the vehicle activities that they would otherwise perform at home or at work. These possibilities might make them depart at different times compared to situations, when they are not able to engage in any activities during travel or when the possible activities do not substitute any out-of-vehicle activities. This paper formalises the on-board activity and substitution effects using new scheduling preferences in the morning commute context. The new scheduling preferences are used (1) to analyse the optimal departure times when there is no congestion, and (2) to obtain the equilibrium congestion patterns in a bottleneck setting. If there is no congestion, it is predicted that AV users would choose to depart earlier (later), if the on-board environment is better suited for their home (work) activities. If there is congestion, more AV users departing earlier or later would skew the congestion in the corresponding direction. Given the minimalistic bottleneck setting, it is found that congestion with AVs is more severe than with conventional vehicles. If AVs were specialised to support only home, only work, or both home and work activities, and would do so to a similar extent, then ‘Work AVs’ would increase the congestion the least. |
| Keywords: | Automated vehicles; On-board activities; Scheduling preferences; Departure time choice; Bottleneck model; Traffic congestion |
| JEL: | R41 |
| Date: | 2019–10–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:96328&r=all |
| By: | Hardman, Scott; Tal, Gil |
| Abstract: | Car buyers in California have the choice of several types of alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) including battery electric vehicles (BEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and fuel cell vehicles (FCVs). FCVs offer a different ownership proposition compared to BEVs, mostly relating to their refueling style. This policy brief summarizing findings from the study which investigated FCV buyers in California and compared them to BEV owners. The hope is to understand why some households choose a FCV rather than a BEV. View the NCST Project Webpage |
| Keywords: | Social and Behavioral Sciences, Fuel cell vehicle, battery electric vehicle, electric vehicle |
| Date: | 2019–10–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cdl:itsdav:qt8228z124&r=all |
| By: | Cohen, Kathleen |
| Abstract: | New mobility trends such as shared mobility, autonomous vehicles, and mobility as a service are poised to disrupt the way the world moves. Since transport behavior is rooted in human behavior, how these trends are adopted will be influenced by behavioral preferences as well as cultural trends. This literature review looks at the behavioral preferences that will influence the uptake and impact of new mobility in the three largest markets: the United States, Europe, and China. The author finds that factors such as cost, time, comfort, convenience, safety, identity creation, and environmental concern are all important in transport modal choice. Larger societal trends such as changing preferences amongst younger generations as well as differences between urban and rural riders will also influence uptake of new mobility. Ultimately, the sustainability of new mobility in terms of reduced emissions and congestion will depend upon the adoption of shared models over private car ownership, which will require behavioral changes that could be incentivized with smart public policy. |
| Keywords: | Resource /Energy Economics and Policy |
| Date: | 2019–10–17 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:feemfe:294197&r=all |
| By: | Jaffe, Amy M.; Dominguez-Faus, Rosa; Lee, Allen; Medlock, Kenneth; Parker, Nathan; Scheitrum, Daniel; Burke, Andrew; Zhou, Hengbing; Fan, Yueyue |
| Abstract: | The recent emergence of natural gas as an abundant, inexpensive fuel in the United States could prompt a momentous shift in the level of natural gas utilized in the transportation sector. The cost advantage of natural gas vis-à-vis diesel fuel is particularly appealing for vehicles with a high intensity of travel and thus fuel use. Natural gas is already a popular fuel for municipal and fleet vehicles such as transit buses and taxis. In this paper, we investigate the possibility that natural gas could be utilized to provide fuel cost savings, geographic supply diversity and environmental benefits for the heavy-duty trucking sector and whether it can enable a transition to lower carbon transport fuels. We find that a small, cost-effective intervention in markets could support a transition to a commercially sustainable natural gas heavyduty fueling system in the state of California and that this could also advance some of the state’s air quality goals. Our research shows that an initial advanced natural gas fueling system in California could facilitate the expansion to other U.S. states. Such a network would enable a faster transition to renewable natural gas or biogas and waste-to-energy pathways. Stricter efficiency standards for natural gas Class 8 trucks and regulation of methane leakage along the natural gas supply chain would be necessary for natural gas to contribute substantially to California’s climate goals as a trucking fuel. To date, industry has favored less expensive technologies that do not offer the highest level of environmental performance. |
| Keywords: | Engineering |
| Date: | 2019–10–14 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cdl:itsdav:qt6663v5jc&r=all |
| By: | Jan K. Brueckner; Achim I. Czerny; Alberto A. Gaggero |
| Abstract: | This paper presents an extensive theoretical and empirical analysis of the choice of schedule buffers by airlines. With airline delays a continuing problem around the world, such an under-taking is valuable, and its lessons extend to other passenger transportation sectors. One useful lesson from the theoretical analysis of a two-flight model is that the mitigation of delay prop-agation is done entirely by the ground buffer and the second flight’s buffer. The first flight’s buffer plays no role because the ground buffer is a perfect, while nondistorting, substitute. In addition, the apportionment of mitigation responsibility between the ground buffer and the flight buffer of flight 2 is shown to depend on the relationship between the costs of ground-and flight-buffer time. The empirical results show the connection between buffer magnitudes and a host of explanatory variables, including the variability of flight times, which simulations of the model identify as an important determining factor. |
| Keywords: | flight delays, delay propagation, buffers |
| JEL: | L93 |
| Date: | 2019 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ces:ceswps:_7875&r=all |
| By: | Zsuzsanna Csereklyei; David I. Stern (Arndt-Corden Department of Economics, Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University) |
| Abstract: | We investigate the factors that affect airlines’ choice of fleet fuel economy using plane- level data for 1267 airlines in 174 countries. Larger and newer planes are usually more fuel- efficient. Controlling for the effect of aircraft size and age, we find that the technically achievable fleet fuel economy improves with the size of airlines and the price of fuel and worsens with higher capital costs. The elasticity of fuel economy with respect to the price of fuel is between -0.07 and -0.13. We find evidence for regional differences in fleet fuel economy that are attributable to the adoption of distinct groups of technologies. |
| JEL: | D22 L93 O14 Q40 |
| Date: | 2018–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:een:ccepwp:1810&r=all |
| By: | Akiko Watanabe (Aoyama Gakuin University); Yosuke Kurihara (Aoyama Gakuin University); Satoshi Kumagai (Aoyama Gakuin University); Toshiyuki Matsumoto (Aoyama Gakuin University); Takuya Hida (Aoyama Gakuin University) |
| Abstract: | Most traffic accidents in Japan are caused by a lack of attention by drivers. One of the main factors contributing to this is ?driving fatigue?. Previous research based on electromyographic evaluations has indicated that the optimal driving methods for reducing the upper limb load on drivers are an ?underside? grip position and the ?push?pull? steering operation technique. This previous research developed the systems that estimate the upper limb load during car driving. However, the systems developed only estimate the upper limb load based on a driving route assumed before driving a car: the problem being that actual driving operation is not considered. Therefore, we previously proposed a method for discriminating the grip position when steering on a straight road to estimate the upper limb load based on steering wheel operation during actual driving. This study now proposes a method for discriminating the modes of steering operation during turns to the right and left. First, we conduct an experiment with a motion sensor and a simple driving simulator to detect the two modes of steering-wheel operation (hand-over-hand steering and push?pull steering) on turning a corner. The 10 subjects (5 males and 5 females) perform the steering operation for each mode according to driving videos. It is found that the modes of steering operation can be discriminated because there are differences in the measurement results of the motion sensor for the two modes Second, using the experimental results, the method of steering operation is discriminated through machine learning with a support vector machine (SVM), supplying the SVM with the average value, standard deviation, maximum value, and minimum value of the measurements taken during steering operation. The discrimination accuracy rate of the test data is found by 5-fold cross-validation to be 97.5%. |
| Keywords: | steering operation, upper limb load, support vector machine |
| JEL: | I19 |
| Date: | 2019–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:9811648&r=all |
| By: | Harju, Jarkko; Kosonen, Tuomas; Slemrod, Joel |
| Abstract: | We study a tax evasion response to car taxes in Finland, where used car importers overstate the mileage to reduce tax liability. First, we develop a tax evasion measure by comparing reported mileage upon import with subsequent information from vehicle inspections, and find that a decline in mileage — "missing miles" — occurs frequently. Second, we analyze a tax rate increase, and observe a reduction in the number of imported used cars, but only among non-evaders. Finally, we analyze an RCT informing some potential importers about a program of inspections that uncover true odometer readings, and the results suggest that thirdparty reporting reduces evasion. |
| Keywords: | car tax, tax evasion, enforcement measures, Social security, taxation and inequality, H21, H23, H26, C93, |
| Date: | 2019 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fer:wpaper:123&r=all |
| By: | ITF |
| Abstract: | The shipping sector receives subsidies, tax breaks and other forms of financial support from governments. This report gives an overview of direct and indirect subsidies available to maritime transport in OECD countries and assesses whether they provide value for taxpayers’ money. Based on this, the report offers recommendations on how policy-makers can increase the effectiveness of maritime subsidies. |
| Date: | 2019–10–17 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:oec:itfaac:70-en&r=all |
| By: | Mauch, Michael; McKeever, Benjamin; Skabardonis, Alexander |
| Abstract: | This research project directly addresses the Caltrans policy question of “How to meet the SB 1 ten-year (2027) mandated preliminary performance outcomes for additional state highway investments?” More specifically, the study focuses on performance outcome number 4: “Not less than 90 percent of the transportation management system units in good condition”. As part of this project, the research team evaluated the Caltrans performance-based methodology to achieve the 90% performance goal in addition to completing a review of relevant reports from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), state departments of transportation, and Caltrans. The research team also conducted multiple meetings, phone calls and emails with Caltrans management. The research team found that the Caltrans Transportation Asset Management Plan, which governs its SB 1 implementation, follows FHWA guidance and published best asset management practices. Further, Caltrans has a solid asset management plan in place to meet the SB 1 target. The research team also provides several recommendations including but not limited to: 1) Caltrans should continue working on defining deterioration rates or models for transportation management systems (TMS), 2) state of being in “good condition” for TMS must be more clearly defined, 3) Caltrans should continue monitoring innovations in asset management, and 4) Caltrans should consider conducting more pilots of performance-based ITS maintenance. |
| Keywords: | Engineering, Performance measurement, asset management, highway maintenance, capital investments, intelligent transportation systems |
| Date: | 2018–08–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cdl:itsrrp:qt32t4p6h0&r=all |
| By: | Liu, Yan (Beijing Institute of Technology); Chen, Xi (Yale University); Yan, Zhijun (Beijing Institute of Technology) |
| Abstract: | While adverse health effects of ambient air pollution have been well documented, there is scarce evidence on the impact of household air pollution (HAP) on mental health. We investigated the causal link between HAP exposure from the use of solid fuel on depressive symptoms using a nationally representative dataset of middle-aged and older population in China. Employing the propensity match score method (PSM), matching and adjusting for potential confounders, we found significantly higher Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) score and risk of depressive symptoms among solid fuel users than clean fuel users. These associations were especially stronger for older females who were less educated, of lower income, of higher body mass index, or had chronic diseases. |
| Keywords: | depression, household solid fuel use, household air pollution, propensity score matching, CHARLS |
| JEL: | I31 Q51 Q53 |
| Date: | 2019–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp12654&r=all |
| By: | Koen van Ruijven (CPB Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis); Paul Verstraten (CPB Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis); Peter Zwaneveld (CPB Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis) |
| Abstract: | As urbanization continues, congestion externalities are becoming more important due to an increasing utilization of the prevailing infrastructure. A growing number of cities have conducted transit-oriented developments to mitigate these congestion externalities. In this article, we analyze the effects of transit-oriented developments on residential property values As an extension to the standard hedonic pricing method, we employ the synthetic control method to estimate the value-added of transit-oriented developments. Three quantitative case studies in the Netherlands indicate that the effects of transit-oriented developments are highly heterogeneous. One case shows strong positive results. The other two are either insignificant, or temporarily negative. |
| JEL: | R38 R58 |
| Date: | 2019–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cpb:discus:399&r=all |
| By: | Gokan, Toshitaka; Kichko, Sergey; Thisse, Jacques-François |
| Abstract: | We consider an economic geography setting in which firms are free to choose one of the following organizational types: (i) integrated firms, which perform all their activities at the same location, (ii) horizontal firms, which operate several plants producing the same good at different locations, and (iii) vertical firms, which perform distinct activities at separated locations. We show that there exists a unique organizational equilibrium, which typically involves the coexistence of various organizational forms. We also give necessary and sufficient conditions for the three types of firms to coexist within the same region and show that transportation and communication costs have opposite effects on firms' organizational choices. This suggests that, depending on its nature, the supply of a new transportation infrastructure may lead to contrasted locational patterns. |
| Keywords: | Communication costs; horizontal firm; Region; Transportation Costs; vertical firm |
| JEL: | F12 F21 R12 |
| Date: | 2019–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:14045&r=all |
| By: | Jenn, Alan; Hardman, Scott; Lee, Jae Hyun; Tal, Gil |
| Keywords: | Social and Behavioral Sciences |
| Date: | 2019–10–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cdl:itsdav:qt01s8k5gt&r=all |
| By: | Vinci Chow |
| Abstract: | Due to superstition, license plates with desirable combinations of characters are highly sought after in China, fetching prices that can reach into the millions in government-held auctions. Despite the high stakes involved, there has been essentially no attempt to provide price estimates for license plates. We present an end-to-end neural network model that simultaneously predict the auction price, gives the distribution of prices and produces latent feature vectors. While both types of neural network architectures we consider outperform simpler machine learning methods, convolutional networks outperform recurrent networks for comparable training time or model complexity. The resulting model powers our online price estimator and search engine. |
| Date: | 2019–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:1910.04879&r=all |