TY - UNPB

T1 - Did the London Congestion Charge Reduce Pollution?

AU - Green, Colin

AU - Heywood, John Spencer

AU - Navarro Paniagua, Maria

PY - 2018/4

Y1 - 2018/4

N2 - We examine the London congestion charge introduced in 2003 and demonstrate significant reductions in a number of pollutants relative to controls. We even find evidence of reductions per mile driven suggesting amelioration of a congestion externality. Yet, we find a robust countervailing increase in harmful NO2 likely reflecting the disproportionate share of diesel vehicles exempt from the congestion charge. This unintended consequence informs on-going concern about pollution from diesel based vehicles and provides a cautionary note regarding substitution effects implicit in congestion charging schemes.

AB - We examine the London congestion charge introduced in 2003 and demonstrate significant reductions in a number of pollutants relative to controls. We even find evidence of reductions per mile driven suggesting amelioration of a congestion externality. Yet, we find a robust countervailing increase in harmful NO2 likely reflecting the disproportionate share of diesel vehicles exempt from the congestion charge. This unintended consequence informs on-going concern about pollution from diesel based vehicles and provides a cautionary note regarding substitution effects implicit in congestion charging schemes.

KW - Pollution

KW - Traffic

KW - Congestion Charging

M3 - Working paper

T3 - Economics Working Papers Series

BT - Did the London Congestion Charge Reduce Pollution?

PB - Lancaster University, Department of Economics

CY - Lancaster

ER -