Reducing Petroleum Consumption from Transportation

Christopher Knittel

No 17724, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: The United States consumed more petroleum-based liquid fuel per capita than any other OECD-high-income country - 30 percent more than the second-highest country (Canada) and 40 percent more than the third-highest (Luxemburg). This paper examines the main channels through which reductions in U.S. oil consumption might take place: (a) increased fuel economy of existing vehicles, (b) increased use of non-petroleum-based low-carbon fuels, (c) alternatives to the internal combustion engine, and (d) reduced vehicles miles travelled. I then discuss how the policies for reducing petroleum consumption used in the US compare with the standard economics prescription for using a Pigouvian tax to deal with externalities. Taking into account that energy taxes are a political hot button in the United States, and also considering some evidence that consumers may not correctly value fuel economy, I offer some thoughts about the margins on which policy aimed at reducing petroleum consumption would have the largest impact on economic efficiency.

JEL-codes: H2 H5 L0 L4 L5 L9 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 R4 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012-01
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ene and nep-tre
Note: EEE IO PE
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (58)

Published as Christopher R. Knittel, 2012. "Reducing Petroleum Consumption from Transportation," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 26(1), pages 93-118, Winter.

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