Vehicle miles (not) traveled: Fuel economy requirements, vehicle characteristics, and household driving

Jeremy West, Mark Hoekstra, Jonathan Meer and Steven Puller ()

Journal of Public Economics, 2017, vol. 145, issue C, 65-81

Abstract: A major concern with addressing the negative externalities of gasoline consumption by regulating fuel economy, rather than increasing fuel taxes, is that households respond by driving more. This paper exploits a discrete threshold in the eligibility for Cash for Clunkers to show that fuel economy restrictions lead households to purchase vehicles that have lower cost-per-mile, but are also smaller and lower-performance. Whereas the former effect can increase driving, the latter effect can reduce it. Results indicate that these households do not drive more, suggesting that behavioral responses do not necessarily undermine the effectiveness of fuel economy restrictions at reducing gasoline consumption.

Keywords: Fuel economy; Rebound effect; Regression discontinuity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: L91 Q41 Q48 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (23)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:pubeco:v:145:y:2017:i:c:p:65-81

DOI: 10.1016/j.jpubeco.2016.09.009

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