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The Value of Urgency: Evidence from Real-Time Congestion Pricing

Author

Listed:
  • Antonio Bento
  • Kevin Roth
  • Andrew Waxman

Abstract

In the setting of Los Angeles’s ExpressLanes, we uncover the distribution of individuals’ preferences for time savings in a novel application of a hedonic pricing model. We introduce the concept of the value of urgency, defined by willingness to pay (WTP) a toll to avoid a congested alternative route. The value of urgency does not scale in the amount of time saved, reflecting discrete penalties for late arrival. This value accounts for 87% of total WTP to use the ExpressLanes, while the contributions to WTP from other widely used valuation measures are negligible. We suggest that quality-of-service pricing that varies in real time and removes uncertainty over travel times creates new markets for individuals to reveal their preferences for urgency.

Suggested Citation

  • Antonio Bento & Kevin Roth & Andrew Waxman, 2024. "The Value of Urgency: Evidence from Real-Time Congestion Pricing," Journal of Political Economy Microeconomics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 2(4), pages 786-851.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucp:jpemic:doi:10.1086/731832
    DOI: 10.1086/731832
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    Cited by:

    1. Andrea Baranzini & Stefano Carattini & Linda Tesauro, 2021. "Designing Effective and Acceptable Road Pricing Schemes: Evidence from the Geneva Congestion Charge," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 79(3), pages 417-482, July.
    2. Tingqiu Cao & Xianhang Qian & Le Zhang, 2024. "The price of the slow lane: Traffic congestion and stock block trading premium," International Review of Finance, International Review of Finance Ltd., vol. 24(1), pages 30-52, March.
    3. Kastl, Jakub & Buchholz, Nicholas & Doval, Laura & Matějka, Filip & Salz, Tobias, 2020. "The Value of Time: Evidence From Auctioned Cab Rides," CEPR Discussion Papers 14666, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    4. Bencsik, Panka & Lusher, Lester & Taylor, Rebecca L.C., 2025. "Slow traffic, fast food: The effects of time lost on food store choice," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).
    5. Beaudoin, Justin & Lin Lawell, C.-Y. Cynthia, 2018. "The effects of public transit supply on the demand for automobile travel," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 447-467.
    6. Durrmeyer, Isis & Martinez, Nicolas, 2022. "The Welfare Consequences of Urban Traffic Regulations," TSE Working Papers 22-1378, Toulouse School of Economics (TSE), revised Dec 2024.
    7. Bencsik, Panka & Lusher, Lester & Taylor, Rebecca, 2021. "Slow Traffic, Fast Food," 2021 Annual Meeting, August 1-3, Austin, Texas 313856, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    8. Nicholas Buchholz & Laura Doval & Jakub Kastl & Filip Matejka & Tobias Salz, 2025. "Personalized Pricing and the Value of Time: Evidence From Auctioned Cab Rides," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 93(3), pages 929-958, May.
    9. Beland, Louis-Philippe & Brent, Daniel A., 2018. "Traffic and crime," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 160(C), pages 96-116.
    10. Beaudoin, Justin & Chen, Yuan & Heres, David R. & Kheiravar, Khaled H. & Lade, Gabriel E. & Yi, Fujin & Zhang, Wei & Lin Lawell, C.-Y. Cynthia, 2018. "Environmental Policies in the Transportation Sector: Taxes, Subsidies, Mandates, Restrictions, and Investment," ISU General Staff Papers 201808150700001050, Iowa State University, Department of Economics.
    11. Wichman, Casey J. & Cunningham, Brandon, 2023. "Notching for free: Do cyclists reveal the opportunity cost of time?," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    12. Goldszmidt, Ariel & List, John A. & Metcalfe, Robert D. & Muir, Ian & Smith, V. Kerry & Wang, Jenny, 2020. "The Value of Time in the United States: Estimates from Nationwide Natural Field Experiments," RFF Working Paper Series 20-23, Resources for the Future.
    13. Buchholz, Nicholas & Doval, Laura & Kastl, Jakub & Matejka, Filip & Salz, Tobias, 2020. "The Value of Time: Evidence From Auctioned Cab Rides," CEPR Discussion Papers 14666, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    14. Zheng Li, 2020. "Experimental Evidence on Socioeconomic Differences in Risk‐Taking and Risk Premiums," The Economic Record, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 96(313), pages 140-152, June.
    15. Gabriel Kreindler, 2024. "Peak‐Hour Road Congestion Pricing: Experimental Evidence and Equilibrium Implications," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 92(4), pages 1233-1268, July.
    16. Shoup, Donald, 2021. "Pricing curb parking," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 154(C), pages 399-412.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D47 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Market Design
    • D61 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Allocative Efficiency; Cost-Benefit Analysis
    • D62 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Externalities
    • H23 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Externalities; Redistributive Effects; Environmental Taxes and Subsidies
    • L51 - Industrial Organization - - Regulation and Industrial Policy - - - Economics of Regulation
    • L91 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities - - - Transportation: General
    • Q58 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Government Policy
    • R41 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics - - - Transportation: Demand, Supply, and Congestion; Travel Time; Safety and Accidents; Transportation Noise

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