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Retirement decision and household’s gasoline consumption: Evidence from a Regression Discontinuity Design

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  • Francescutto, Nicola

Abstract

I employ household-level data over 2006–2017 to quantify the impact of retirement on gasoline consumption. Based on a fuzzy regression discontinuity design, I show that gasoline consumption declines by 32–36 percent on average over my different specifications. The reduction reaches 59–66 percent when I restrict the sample to single-person households. I further find that the probability to use any gasoline decreases by 5–6 percent at retirement (13–16 percent for single-person households). These findings suggest that demographic trends represent an important driver of CO2 emissions associated with private mobility in developed countries.

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  • Francescutto, Nicola, 2025. "Retirement decision and household’s gasoline consumption: Evidence from a Regression Discontinuity Design," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:eneeco:v:144:y:2025:i:c:s0140988325001987
    DOI: 10.1016/j.eneco.2025.108374
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    JEL classification:

    • C21 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Cross-Sectional Models; Spatial Models; Treatment Effect Models
    • C23 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • Q4 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy

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