Did the London congestion charge reduce pollution?

Colin Green (), John Heywood and Maria Navarro Paniagua

Regional Science and Urban Economics, 2020, vol. 84, issue C

Abstract: Recent vehicle charging schemes aim to reduce pollution and other congestion externalities. We reexamine the London congestion charge introduced in 2003 and demonstrate significant reductions in several pollutants relative to controls. We even find evidence of reductions per mile driven suggesting amelioration of a congestion externality. Yet, we find a more robust countervailing increase in harmful NO2 likely reflecting the disproportionate share of diesel vehicles exempt from the congestion charge. This unintended consequence informs on-going concern about pollution from diesel-based vehicles and provides a cautionary note regarding substitution effects implicit in many congestion charging schemes.

Keywords: Pollution; Traffic; Congestion charging (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: H27 I18 R48 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (19)

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Working Paper: Did the London Congestion Charge Reduce Pollution? (2018)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:regeco:v:84:y:2020:i:c:s0166046220302581

DOI: 10.1016/j.regsciurbeco.2020.103573

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