Benjamin Leard

University Fellow

Benjamin Leard is a university fellow at RFF as well as an assistant professor and faculty fellow at University of Tennessee. He is an environmental economist who focuses his work on transportation policy, climate change, and discrete choice modeling. His recent work involves estimating household preferences for vehicle attributes and evaluating the costs and benefits of fuel economy and greenhouse gas standards for light duty vehicles. His work has been published in Science and he has been cited in the Washington Post for his research on consumer demand for autonomous vehicles.

Education

PhD in applied economics and management, Cornell University, 2014
BS in mathematics and economics, James Madison University, 2008

Topics

How Much Do Consumers Value Fuel Cost Savings? Evidence from the Passenger Vehicle Leasing Market

This paper finds that drivers undervalue lifetime fuel costs when deciding which new cars to buy or lease.

Explainer — Mar 24, 2021

Federal Climate Policy 104: The Transportation Sector

A review of current primary policies and policy options for emissions reductions in the sector, including fuel economy and GHG standards, programs to promote the use of alternative-fuel vehicles, and more.

Report — Dec 8, 2020

Progress and Potential for Electric Vehicles to Reduce Carbon Emissions

Electric vehicles (EVs) represent a promising step toward lowering greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector—but this report finds that EVs will continue to play a small part in emissions reductions over the next five years, with larger contributions in the decade after.

RFF-Rpt-WTP_FuelEconomy%26Performance%20Cover.png

Report — Jun 14, 2017

How Much Do Consumers Value Fuel Economy and Performance? Evidence from Technology Adoption

Current US passenger vehicle fuel economy and greenhouse gas standards will roughly double fuel economy and cut emissions. Recently tightened standards have reduced fuel costs, but have had roughly zero net effect on consumer well-being.

Working Paper — Aug 25, 2021

How Much Do Consumers Value Fuel Cost Savings? Evidence from the Passenger Vehicle Leasing Market

This paper finds that drivers undervalue lifetime fuel costs when deciding which new cars to buy or lease.

Explainer — Mar 24, 2021

Federal Climate Policy 104: The Transportation Sector

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Workshop/Seminar — Jul 15, 2020

Exploring Innovative Transportation Policies

A summary of and presentations from a two-day virtual workshop on transportation carbon pricing in the TCI

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Press Release — Aug 25, 2021

Car Consumers Undervalue Fuel Cost Savings, Valuing Present Costs Over Future Gains

A new paper shows that consumers are willing to pay around 29 cents at the time of vehicle transaction in exchange for $1 of future fuel savings over the course of a vehicle’s expected life.

Media Highlight — Nov 20, 2020

Here's How Elon Musk Is 'Eating The Lunch' Of Tesla's Rivals

A story in InsideEVs quotes University Fellow Benjamin Leard on the subject of getting high-selling electric vehicles on the market.

Media Highlight — Nov 10, 2020

Combustion Engine Gains Are Not Exhausted

A story in the Financial Times about the future of gas-powered cars cites RFF researchers Benjamin Leard and Joshua Linn.

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Common Resources — Sep 30, 2021

Fuel Economy Standards Will Help Speed the Deployment of Electric Vehicles, But May Not Be Enough to Achieve the 2030 Target

The Biden administration hopes to drastically increase the share of electric vehicles on the road. New fuel economy standards will help, but emissions reductions from efficient gasoline vehicles will far outweigh reductions from new electric vehicles.

Common Resources — Sep 22, 2021

What Should Federal Agencies Assume for How Much Consumers Are Willing to Pay for Fuel Cost Savings?

Government agencies that assess the consequences of fuel economy standards assume that consumers value just the first 30 months of fuel cost savings. Should the agencies reconsider their assumptions?

Common Resources — Sep 8, 2021

How Much and How Quickly Will Biden’s Proposed Fuel Economy Standards Reduce Emissions?

President Joe Biden’s proposed fuel economy standards are more ambitious than those of his predecessors, but the regulations might only modestly reduce emissions from passenger vehicles.

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Benjamin Leard

Education

Topics

Featured Content

How Much Do Consumers Value Fuel Cost Savings? Evidence from the Passenger Vehicle Leasing Market

Federal Climate Policy 104: The Transportation Sector

Progress and Potential for Electric Vehicles to Reduce Carbon Emissions

How Much Do Consumers Value Fuel Economy and Performance? Evidence from Technology Adoption

How Much Do Consumers Value Fuel Cost Savings? Evidence from the Passenger Vehicle Leasing Market

Federal Climate Policy 104: The Transportation Sector

Exploring Innovative Transportation Policies

Car Consumers Undervalue Fuel Cost Savings, Valuing Present Costs Over Future Gains

Here's How Elon Musk Is 'Eating The Lunch' Of Tesla's Rivals

Combustion Engine Gains Are Not Exhausted

Fuel Economy Standards Will Help Speed the Deployment of Electric Vehicles, But May Not Be Enough to Achieve the 2030 Target

What Should Federal Agencies Assume for How Much Consumers Are Willing to Pay for Fuel Cost Savings?

How Much and How Quickly Will Biden’s Proposed Fuel Economy Standards Reduce Emissions?