Measuring the Rebound Effect with Micro Data

Bruno De Borger, Ismir Mulalic () and Jan Rouwendal

No 15-039/VIII, Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers from Tinbergen Institute

Abstract: We provide estimates of the rebound effect for car transport in Denmark, using a rich data set with individual household data on car use, fuel efficiency, and car as well as household characteristics. A demand model is estimated in first differences; the availability of households in the sample that replaced their car during the period of observation combined with information on their driving behaviour before and after the car switch allows us to identify the rebound effect. Endogeneity is taken into account by using appropriate instruments. Results include the following. First, we reject the 'conventional' formulation in which only fuel cost per kilometre matters. Second, the selection equation confirms that higher fuel prices induce households to switch car. Third, the results suggest the presence of a rebound effect that is on the lower end of the estimates available in the literature. Specifically, our best estimate of the rebound effect is some 7.5%-10%. Fourth, the fuel price sensitivity of the demand for kilometres appears to be declining with household income, but we do not find a significant impact of income on the rebound effect. Finally, simulation results indicate that the small rebound effect and changes in car characteristics in response to higher fuel prices imply that -- compared to the reference scenario -- higher fuel prices lead to a substantial reduction in both the demand for kilometres and in demand for fuel.

Keywords: The rebound effect; fuel efficiency; first difference models (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C02 D01 Q5 R4 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015-03-23
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-eff, nep-ene, nep-eur and nep-tre
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Measuring the rebound effect with micro data: A first difference approach (2016)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:tin:wpaper:20150039

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