Automobile demand models for evaluating the impacts of fuel-efficiency energy policies

Thesis/Dissertation · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1978

OSTI ID:5980763

Hamblin, D M

The dissertation evaluates two dimensions of the automobile sales impact of originally proposed legislation on fuel efficiency. The first dimension is the success of energy policy in engendering consumption of a more energy-efficient fleet of automobiles. The second dimension is the impact upon aggregate demand for automobiles. In order to derive impacts, automobiles are disaggregated into five classes - subcompacts, compacts, intermediates, standards, and luxury cars - distinguishable by differing average fuel economies. Policy impacts are forecast for four possible visions of the eight-year policy horizon: (1). The fuel-efficiency incentive tax is successful in bringing fuel-consumption increases within desired limits. Auto manufacturers maintain fuel economies (in each class) at their initial class-average (benchmark) levels. (2). The fuel-efficiency incentive tax is unsuccessful in bringing fuel-consumption within desired limits. The government levies a five-cent-per-gallon standby gasoline tax in year two, and increases the tax by five-cents-per-gallon in each of years three through eight. Auto manufacturers (again) maintain fuel economies at their benchmark levels. (3). The fuel-efficiency incentive tax is successful in bringing fuel-consumption increases within desired limits. In years two through eight, auto manufacturers improve fuel economies (in each class) by one mile per gallon per year. (4) The fuel-efficiency incentive tax is unsuccessful in bringing fuel-consumption within desired limits. The government levies a five-cent-per-gallon standby gasoline tax in year two, and increases the tax by five-cents-per-gallon in each of years three through eight. This occurs notwithstanding the fuel economy improvements noted in (3) above. The general methodologies employed are application of the theory of consumer behavior and econometric analysis.

• OSTI ID: 5980763
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
291000 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Conservation
293000* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Policy
Legislation
& Regulation
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320203 -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Transportation-- Land & Roadway
AUTOMOBILES
DEMAND FACTORS
ECONOMETRICS
ECONOMICS
EFFICIENCY
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
ENERGY POLICY
FINANCIAL INCENTIVES
FUEL CONSUMPTION
FUEL ECONOMY
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
TAXES
VEHICLES