The Distributional Impacts of Policies for the Control of Transport Externalities.An Applied General Equilibrium Model

The paper uses an applied general equilibrium model, calibrated to the situation in Belgium in 1990, to evaluate the welfare effects of small policy changes in the presence of transport externalities. The model incorporates three types of externalities: congestion, which has a feedback effect on the behaviour of the economic agents, air pollution and accidents. The model is used to perform balanced budget incidence simulations in which the marginal cost of public funds is calculated for four alternative policy instruments: a lump sum tax, the labour income tax, the fuel taxes and peak road pricing. For each of these instruments the marginal cost of public funds is calculated. The results of the model are compared with those of a model in which congestion, air pollution and accidents are assumed to remain constant at their initial level. The model contributes to the literature in two ways. First of all, it includes non-identical individuals which allows to analyse the equity effects of the policy reforms. The second contribution is related to the way in which the externalities are modelled: the feedback effect of congestion is explicitly taken into account and the value of a marginal time saving is determined endogenously in the model. The simulations show that the ranking of the instruments in terms of their marginal cost of public funds changes significantly when the effect of the reform on the externalities is taken into account. Secondly, regardless of the way in which the tax revenue is recycled, the welfare gain of peak road pricing is higher than that of the fuel tax. When the externality tax revenue is recycled through the lump sum tax the welfare gains are higher for the poorer than for the richer quintiles. On the other hand, the main beneficiary of revenue recycling through the labour income tax is the richest quintile. Consequently, when the social welfare function gives a higher weight to the welfare of individuals belonging to the poorer quintiles, the distributional impacts of the policy reforms cause the welfare gain to be higher when the revenue is recycled through an increase in the lump sum transfer rather than through a lower labour income tax rate. The link is made with the double dividend literature. A weak double dividend can be realised only when all individuals are given the same welfare weight. However, the inclusion of distributional considerations offers the possibility of realising a strong double dividend for low degrees of inequality aversion.Marginal cost of public funds, Externalities, Equity, Applied general equilibrium model

Equity and transport policy reform

The paper assesses the marginal welfare and equity impacts of three transport instruments in the presence of three transport externalities: congestion, air pollution and accidents. It considers a second-best economy in which the government has to use distortionary taxes for revenue-raising and distributional purposes. The assessment uses an applied general equilibrium model for Belgium. The transport instruments are: peak road pricing, the fuel tax and subsidies to public transport. They are introduced in a revenue-neutral way with the labour income tax, the lump sum social security transfers and other transport instruments serving as revenue- preserving instruments. It is shown that the equity effects of the transport instruments depend to a large extent on how revenue-neutrality is ensured. The political acceptability of transport policy reforms can therefore be enhanced by a careful design of the revenue-preserving strategies. Moreover, it is argued that distributional considerations cannot be ignored in the double dividend discussion.transport; externalities; tax reform; equity; applied general equilibrium

Taxes And Transport Externalities

The paper reviews the role of taxation in controlling transport externalities. It argues that the design of transport taxes should take into account pre-existing tax distortions in the economy and looks at the implications of restrictions on the transport instruments at the disposal of the policy maker. The relevance of equity considerations for transport pricing is also explored.transport economics; externalities; externality tax; equity; efficiency

Equity and transport policy reform.

Policy; Transport; Working;

Should Diesel Cars in Europe be discouraged ?

This paper examines the rationale for the different tax treatment of gasoline and diesel cars currently observed in Europe. First, we analyse possible justifications for a different tax treatment: pure tax revenue considerations, externality considerations and constraints on the tax instruments used for cars and trucks. Next, an applied general equilibrium model is used to assess the welfare effects of revenue neutral changes in the vehicle and fuel taxes on diesel and gasoline cars. The model integrates the effects on tax revenue, environmental externalities, road congestion, accidents and income distribution.

Should diesel cars in Europe be discouraged?

This paper examines the rationale for the different tax treatment of gasoline and diesel cars currently observed in Europe. First, we analyse possible justifications for a different tax treatment: pure tax revenue considerations, externality considerations and constraints on the tax instruments used for cars and trucks. Next, an applied general equilibrium model is used to assess the welfare effects of revenue neutral changes in the vehicle and fuel taxes on diesel and gasoline cars. The model integrates the effects on tax revenue, environmental externalities, road congestion, accidents and income distribution.

Reforming transport pricing: an economist's perspective on equity, efficiency and acceptability

This paper applies the traditional definition of equity and efficiency in economics to transport pricing. It is shown how this framework can also be used to define acceptability. The problems and potential of this approach are illustrated by examining the effects for Belgium of replacing current transport pricing by marginal social cost pricing. The welfare effects on different income groups of this pricing reform are shown for different income groups using a computable general equilibrium model. We demonstrate how the efficiency, equity and acceptability of the reform depend not only on the change in transport prices but also on the way the extra tax revenues are used. We compare the effects of the use of net tax revenues for higher social transfers and for lower labour taxes.transport economics; externalities; externality tax; equity; efficiency; political acceptability

Towards better transport pricing and taxation in Belgium

Starting from the fundamental principles of transport pricing the paper discusses the relative merits of a number of policy measures. It is argued that in the short to medium run the discouragement of the purchase of new diesel cars is the most important environmental measure that can be taken. A further increase in the fuel efficiency is no priority. In the same time frame parking charges and a cordon toll around major cities have an important role to play, while subsidies to public transport are justified only if a number of conditions are met. A toll on trucks is mainly an interesting way to make transit traffic pay taxes, but could be less useful to control the congestion levels. In the long run prices should be based on marginal social costs. Such pricing measures should be accompanied by a well-directed use of the revenues to correct for the effects on the poorest income groups.Transport Pricing, transport taxes, transport externalities

Should diesel cars in Europe be discouraged ?.

This paper examines the rationale for the different tax treatment of gasoline and diesel cars currently observed in Europe. First, we analyse possible justifications for a different tax treatment: pure tax revenue considerations, externality considerations and constraints on the tax instruments used for cars and trucks. Next, an applied general equilibrium model is used to assess the welfare effects of revenue neutral changes in the vehicle and fuel taxes on diesel and gasoline cars. The model integrates the effects on tax revenue, environmental externalities, road congestion, accidents and income distribution.

Towards better transport pricing and taxation in Belgium.

Belgium; Pricing; Transport; Working;