At 10:25 AM 2/5/99 +0000, Colin Black wrote:
>Oscar Faber have recently been comissioned by the EC to carry out a
>detailed review of unconventional forms of charging and taxation
>where receipts are totally or partly earmarked to support public
>transport.
>
>This will include an analysis and comparison of the incentives and
>disincentives within Member State taxation systems for using public
>transport, other sustainable modes and the car. Then to develop
>recommendations, based on detailed case studies, on the broad
>applicability of unconventional charging/taxation measures.
I recently completed a USEPA funded study that looks at current market
distortions that encourages excessive automobile use, and develops
recommendations for revenue-neutral tax and pricing shifts that create a
more economically efficient and equitable market.
The report is, "Road Relief; Tax and Pricing Shifts for a Fairer, Cleaner,
and Less Congested Transportation System in Washington State," by Todd
Litman, Charles Komanoff and Douglas Howell, published by the Energy
Outreach Center (Olympia, Washigton; www.eoc.org), 1998. It can be
downloaded from the website.
Our analysis indicates that this type of tax shifting could reduce total
automobile use by 25-35%. A portion of this would consist of shifts to
transit, but much of the reduced travel would consist of trips that are
consolidated or reduced in length.
There would be a number of broad economic development benefits from this
type of tax shift. In particular, it would allow a reduction in sales or
income taxes, which tend to be highly economically burdensome in terms of
employment and economic productivity.
After you've had a chance to look at the report please let me know if you
have questions or comments.
Sincerely,
Todd Litman, Director
Victoria Transport Policy Institute
"Efficiency - Equity - Clarity"
1250 Rudlin Street
Victoria, BC, V8V 3R7, Canada
Phone & Fax: 250-360-1560
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
Website: www.islandnet.com/~litman
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