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The Effect of Diesel Tax Rates on the Daily Commuting of US Workers: An Effective Instrument to Promote Sustainable Mobility?

Author

Listed:
  • Belloc, Ignacio

    (University of Zaragoza)

  • Gimenez-Nadal, José Ignacio

    (University of Zaragoza)

  • Molina, José Alberto

    (University of Zaragoza)

Abstract

In this paper, we analyze whether diesel fuel taxes can be an effective tool to boost the daily commuting of US workers towards the use of green modes of transport. To that end, we use data from the American Time Use Survey 2003-2019 and explore the factors influencing commuting time and the proportion of commute using alternative modes of transport, including walking and cycling. Our results indicate that diesel fuel taxes are linked to a reduction in the total time devoted to commuting, and to the proportion of commuting by private car, and to an increase in the proportion of commuting done by green modes of transport such as public transport and walking. This relationship is not homogeneous in the urban dimension, as the effects on total commuting time and the percentage of commuting by public transport is present in urban areas only. In a context where many countries are implementing policies aimed at increasing the use of sustainable modes of personal mobility, our results indicate that taxing fuels used for personal mobility may be an efficient way to decrease the use of more polluting modes of transport and encourage more eco-friendly alternatives while commuting.

Suggested Citation

  • Belloc, Ignacio & Gimenez-Nadal, José Ignacio & Molina, José Alberto, 2022. "The Effect of Diesel Tax Rates on the Daily Commuting of US Workers: An Effective Instrument to Promote Sustainable Mobility?," IZA Discussion Papers 15416, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp15416
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Stewart, Jay, 2013. "Tobit or not Tobit?," Journal of Economic and Social Measurement, IOS Press, issue 3, pages 263-290.
    2. James Alm & Edward Sennoga & Mark Skidmore, 2009. "Perfect Competition, Urbanization, And Tax Incidence In The Retail Gasoline Market," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 47(1), pages 118-134, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Gutiérrez, Antonio, 2022. "Movilidad urbana y datos de alta frecuencia [Urban mobility and high frequency data]," MPRA Paper 114854, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    commuting time; green mobility; state diesel taxes; American Time Use Survey;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D1 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior
    • Q4 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy
    • R4 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics

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