Association for Public Policy Analysis & Management

Panel: Transportation Regulations and Consumer Responsiveness

(Natural Resource Security, Energy and Environmental Policy)

This panel addresses particularly topical and important questions about transportation regulations in the U.S. and China. Both countries have regulations in place to reduce air pollution: in the U.S., there are combined fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions standards; in China, among other regulations at the national and sub-national level, Beijing has a program that restricts vehicle ownership through a lottery system.

This proposed panel asks three questions: 1) what are the effects of the U.S. program on the economy; 2) are consumers willing to pay for more fuel efficient vehicles to comply with the U.S. regulations; and 3) what are the effects (or unintended consequences) of Beijing’s program on labor supply? The first two papers are closely connected due to their focus on the same U.S. program. The first and third paper both consider effects of vehicle regulations on markets. And the second and third paper both consider the individual vehicle consumer and implications of vehicle consumption choices.

All three papers promise methodological rigor and “better measurement”. The first paper is based on an extensive modeling exercise. The second and third paper are both based on regression analysis with efforts to address endogeneity.

We have a confirmed discussant at this time. We also have an outstanding invitation to a employee at Argonne National Laboratory who works on transportation systems and economics. If he is able to confirm his attendance, then the panel will have two discussants—one academic and one practitioner. Even without this contribution, however, the panel offers a good blend of academic and think-tank scholars, all of whom are working on pressing and important challenges in evolving transportation markets.