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The effect of subway expansions on vehicle congestion: Evidence from Beijing

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  • Yang, Jun
  • Chen, Shuai
  • Qin, Ping
  • Lu, Fangwen
  • Liu, Antung A.

Abstract

Does public transportation reduce vehicle congestion? Using a regression-discontinuity framework, we examine the effect of six subway openings on short-run congestion in Beijing between 2009 and 2015. We find that vehicle congestion drops sharply immediately after new subway openings. In our central specification, each of the subway openings decreased delay times by an average of 15% in the short run over the city of Beijing.

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  • Yang, Jun & Chen, Shuai & Qin, Ping & Lu, Fangwen & Liu, Antung A., 2018. "The effect of subway expansions on vehicle congestion: Evidence from Beijing," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 114-133.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jeeman:v:88:y:2018:i:c:p:114-133
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jeem.2017.09.007
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Q5; R4;

    JEL classification:

    • Q5 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics
    • R4 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics

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