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Title: State differences in the demand for gasoline: an econometric analysis. [Per vehicle, household, and driver]

Journal Article · · Energy Syst. Policy; (United States)
OSTI ID:5720272

The development of policies for energy conservation in transportation should involve a consideration of how these policies will affect states and regions. This must be predicated on an understanding of the magnitude of state and regional differences in energy use and the factors responsible for those differences. This paper reports the results of an investigation into the determinants of household highway gasoline use at the state level. State highway gasoline sales per household in 1975 ranged from 864 gallons annually in New York to 2222 gallons in Wyoming. This study addresses the question of why these differences exist. A two-phase explanatory modeling approach was employed. A demand equation relating highway gasoline sales to socioeconomic variables is first estimated using data from the states and District of Columbia for 1966 to 1975. The demand equation also produces quantitative estimates of state-specific deviations from predicted consumption levels. In the second phase these state-specific effects are regressed against a set of cross-sectional variables describing such state characteristics as spatial structure, climate, and employment in agriculture. State highway gasoline sales per household were found to be negatively related to population density, urbanization, percentage of agricultural employment, severe winter weather, and small car share of the vehicle fleet. Positive relationships were found with the percentage of the population aged 18 to 44 and the level of tourist activity. 24 references.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab., TN
OSTI ID:
5720272
Journal Information:
Energy Syst. Policy; (United States), Vol. 3:2
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English