Rights statement: This is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Regional Science and Urban Economics. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Regional Science and Urban Economics, 84, 2020 DOI: 10.1016/j.regsciurbeco.2020.103573
Accepted author manuscript, 598 KB, PDF document
Available under license: CC BY-NC-ND
Final published version
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Did the London Congestion Charge Reduce Pollution?
AU - Green, Colin
AU - Heywood, John Spencer
AU - Navarro Paniagua, Maria
N1 - This is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Regional Science and Urban Economics. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Regional Science and Urban Economics, 84, 2020 DOI: 10.1016/j.regsciurbeco.2020.103573
PY - 2020/9/1
Y1 - 2020/9/1
N2 - Recent vehicle charging schemes aim to reduce pollution and other congestion externalities. We reexamine the London congestion charge introduced in 2003 and demonstrate significant reductions in several pollutants relative to controls. We even find evidence of reductions per mile driven suggesting amelioration of a congestion externality. Yet, we find a more 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 many congestion charging schemes.
AB - Recent vehicle charging schemes aim to reduce pollution and other congestion externalities. We reexamine the London congestion charge introduced in 2003 and demonstrate significant reductions in several pollutants relative to controls. We even find evidence of reductions per mile driven suggesting amelioration of a congestion externality. Yet, we find a more 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 many congestion charging schemes.
KW - Pollution
KW - Traffic
KW - Congestion charging
U2 - 10.1016/j.regsciurbeco.2020.103573
DO - 10.1016/j.regsciurbeco.2020.103573
M3 - Journal article
VL - 84
JO - Regional Science and Urban Economics
JF - Regional Science and Urban Economics
SN - 0166-0462
M1 - 103573
ER -