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Welfare effects of road pricing and traffic information under alternative ownership regimes

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  • Gubins, Sergejs
  • Verhoef, Erik T.
  • de Graaff, Thomas

Abstract

This paper models strategic interactions between a road supplier, a provider of traffic information, and road users, with stochastic travel times. Using a game-theoretical analysis of suppliers’ pricing strategies, we assess the social welfare effects of traffic information under various ownership regimes. The results show that the distortive welfare effect of monopolistic information pricing appears relatively small. Collusion of the road operator and information provider yields higher social welfare than independent pricing by two firms. The intuition behind this result resembles that behind the welfare effects of double marginalization, but is not exactly the same, as traffic information is not strictly complementary to road use.

Suggested Citation

  • Gubins, Sergejs & Verhoef, Erik T. & de Graaff, Thomas, 2012. "Welfare effects of road pricing and traffic information under alternative ownership regimes," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 46(8), pages 1304-1317.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:transa:v:46:y:2012:i:8:p:1304-1317
    DOI: 10.1016/j.tra.2012.05.014
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    Cited by:

    1. Rouhani, Omid M. & Oliver Gao, H., 2014. "An advanced traveler general information system for Fresno, California," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 254-267.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Willingness to pay for information; Private road operator; Private information provider; ICT;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L11 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Production, Pricing, and Market Structure; Size Distribution of Firms
    • L15 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Information and Product Quality
    • R41 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics - - - Transportation: Demand, Supply, and Congestion; Travel Time; Safety and Accidents; Transportation Noise
    • R48 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics - - - Government Pricing and Policy

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