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Motorways, tolls and road safety.Evidence from European Panel Data

Author

Listed:
  • Daniel Albalate

    (Faculty of Economics, University of Barcelona)

  • Germa Bel

    (Faculty of Economics, University of Barcelona)

Abstract

The use of tolls is being widespread around the world. Its ability to fund infrastructure projects and to solve budget constraints have been the main rationale behind its renewed interest. However, less attention has been payed to the safety effects derived from this policy in a moment of increasing concern on road fatalities. Pricing best infrastructures shifts some drivers onto worse alternative roads usually not prepared to receive high traffic in comparable safety standards. In this paper we provide evidence of the existence of this perverse consequence by using an international European panel in a two way fixed effects estimation.

Suggested Citation

  • Daniel Albalate & Germa Bel, 2008. "Motorways, tolls and road safety.Evidence from European Panel Data," IREA Working Papers 200802, University of Barcelona, Research Institute of Applied Economics, revised Feb 2008.
  • Handle: RePEc:ira:wpaper:200802
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    File URL: http://www.ub.edu/irea/working_papers/2008/200802.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Road Safety; Tolls; Motorways and Transportation.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H23 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Externalities; Redistributive Effects; Environmental Taxes and Subsidies
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • R48 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics - - - Government Pricing and Policy

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