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Estimating the supply and demand of gasoline using tax data

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  • Coyle, David
  • DeBacker, Jason
  • Prisinzano, Richard

Abstract

We estimate supply and demand functions for the U.S. gasoline market using information from excise tax returns provided by the IRS for the period 1990–2009. We find price and income elasticities of demand similar to those found using EIA data. We find a price elasticity of supply of 0.29, which differs from the common assumption of a perfectly inelastic short-run supply curve. By using a novel data source, the analysis provides a robustness check of aggregate studies of gasoline demand and a consistent, econometric estimate of the price elasticity of gasoline supply. The results are useful in guiding tax and regulatory policies regarding gasoline consumption.

Suggested Citation

  • Coyle, David & DeBacker, Jason & Prisinzano, Richard, 2012. "Estimating the supply and demand of gasoline using tax data," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 34(1), pages 195-200.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:eneeco:v:34:y:2012:i:1:p:195-200
    DOI: 10.1016/j.eneco.2011.07.011
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    9. Baaquie, Belal E. & Du, Xin & Tanputraman, Winson, 2015. "Empirical microeconomics action functionals," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 428(C), pages 19-37.
    10. Ghoddusi, Hamed, 2017. "Blending under uncertainty: Real options analysis of ethanol plants and biofuels mandates," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 110-120.
    11. Baratsas, Stefanos G. & Niziolek, Alexander M. & Onel, Onur & Matthews, Logan R. & Floudas, Christodoulos A. & Hallermann, Detlef R. & Sorescu, Sorin M. & Pistikopoulos, Efstratios N., 2022. "A novel quantitative forecasting framework in energy with applications in designing energy-intelligent tax policies," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 305(C).
    12. Lade, Gabriel E & Lawell, C-Y Cynthia Lin, 2015. "Mandating green: On the Design of Renewable Fuel Policies and Cost Containment Mechanisms," Institute of Transportation Studies, Working Paper Series qt5zj382t4, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Davis.
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    15. Ghoddusi, Hamed & Roy, Mandira, 2017. "Supply elasticity matters for the rebound effect and its impact on policy comparisons," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 111-120.
    16. Burke, Paul J. & Nishitateno, Shuhei, 2013. "Gasoline prices, gasoline consumption, and new-vehicle fuel economy: Evidence for a large sample of countries," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 363-370.
    17. Gabriel E. Lade & C.-Y. Cynthia Lin Lawell, 2021. "The Design of Renewable Fuel Mandates and Cost Containment Mechanisms," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 79(2), pages 213-247, June.
    18. Nguyen-Ones , Mai & Steen, Frode, 2018. "Market Power in Retail Gasoline Markets," Discussion Paper Series in Economics 21/2019, Norwegian School of Economics, Department of Economics, revised 01 Jul 2019.
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    20. Prest, Brian C. & Fell, Harrison & Gordon, Deborah & Conway, TJ, 2023. "Estimating the Emissions Reductions from Supply-side Fossil Fuel Interventions," RFF Working Paper Series 23-11, Resources for the Future.
    21. Neto, David, 2012. "Testing and estimating time-varying elasticities of Swiss gasoline demand," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 34(6), pages 1755-1762.
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    23. Bigerna, S. & Bollino, C.A. & Micheli, S. & Polinori, P., 2017. "Revealed and stated preferences for CO2 emissions reduction: The missing link," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 68(P2), pages 1213-1221.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Gasoline demand; Gasoline supply; Excise taxes;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q41 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Demand and Supply; Prices
    • Q48 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Government Policy

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