Pricing Externalities from Passenger Transportation in Mexico City
The Mexico City Metropolitan Area has been suffering severely from transportation externalities such as accidents, air pollution, and traffic congestion. This study examines pricing instruments to reduce these externalities using an analytical and...
Main Authors: | , |
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Format: | Policy Research Working Paper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
2012
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Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?menuPK=64187510&pagePK=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=523679&menuPK=64187510&searchMenuPK=64187283&siteName=WDS&entityID=000158349_20091009143814 http://hdl.handle.net/10986/4263 |
Summary: | The Mexico City Metropolitan Area has
been suffering severely from transportation externalities
such as accidents, air pollution, and traffic congestion.
This study examines pricing instruments to reduce these
externalities using an analytical and numerical model. The
study shows that the optimal levels of a gasoline tax and a
congestion toll on automobiles could generate social
benefits, measured in terms of welfare gain, of US$132 and
US$109 per capita, respectively, through the reduction of
externalities. The largest component of the welfare gains
comes from reduced congestion, followed by local air
pollution reduction. The optimal toll and tax would,
however, double the cost of driving and could be politically
sensitive. Still, more than half of those welfare gains
could be obtained through a more modest tax or toll,
equivalent to $1 per gallon of gasoline. The welfare gains
from reforming the pricing of public transportation are
small relative to those from reforming the taxation of
automobiles. Although the choice among travel modes depends
on specific circumstances, in the absence of road travel
pricing that accounts for externalities, there will be
potential for higher investment in roads relative to mass
transit. Given the rapidly increasing demand for
transportation infrastructure in Mexico City, careful
efforts should be made to include the full social costs of
travel in evaluating alternative infrastructure investments. |
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