Transportation
A growing economy relies on an effective and efficient transportation system; however, issues related to pollution, congestion, and safety can dampen that growth. RFF experts are analyzing the costs, benefits, and distributional consequences of transportation policies to help lawmakers design programs that can effectively impact consumer and producer behaviors.
Fuel Economy Standards and New Vehicle Sales
Read about the relationship between regulations and sales.
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Reviewing the Fuel Economy Standards Rollback
Find data and analysis on US fuel economy standards.
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Alternative Fuels and Vehicles
Examining the relevant policies, regulations, and markets
CAFE Standards and Fuel Efficiency
Analyzing policies that reduce fuel demand and carbon emissions
Fuel Taxes
Analyzing how fuel taxes interact with existing fuel efficiency policies.
Traffic Congestion
Exploring policy options to reduce the inefficiencies of gridlock.
Featured Content
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- Resources Magazine
Explainer — Sep 10, 2020
Carbon Pricing 202: Pricing Carbon in the Transportation Sector
What are the effects of a carbon price on the transportation sector, from fuel prices to total miles traveled?
Issue Brief — Sep 9, 2020
How Targeted Vehicle Scrappage Subsidies Can Reduce Pollution Effectively
An evaluation of hypothetical vehicle scrappage incentive programs and assessment of how they can be designed to reduce adverse selection to more effectively change behavior and reduce emissions.
Press Release — Sep 9, 2020
How Incentives to Scrap Old Cars Can Be More Cost-Effective
New research shows that incentives to scrap old cars can be more effective by targeting high-emissions cars that would otherwise stay on the road.
Explainer — Sep 10, 2020
Carbon Pricing 202: Pricing Carbon in the Transportation Sector
What are the effects of a carbon price on the transportation sector, from fuel prices to total miles traveled?
Issue Brief — Sep 9, 2020
How Targeted Vehicle Scrappage Subsidies Can Reduce Pollution Effectively
An evaluation of hypothetical vehicle scrappage incentive programs and assessment of how they can be designed to reduce adverse selection to more effectively change behavior and reduce emissions.
Journal Article — Aug 24, 2020
How Costly are License Plate-Based Driving Restrictions: Contingent Valuation Evidence from Beijing
Before he left RFF in March 2017, Nonresident Fellow Allen Blackman began a project measuring the private costs to drivers of Beijing's driving restrictions program. He and his colleagues found that costs are substantial but may have net benefits.
Workshop/Seminar — Dec 3, 2018
New Research Questions on Electricity, Transportation, and Carbon Markets: What Stands in the Way Becomes the Way
Workshop/Seminar — Dec 2, 2015
The Evolving US Vehicle Fleet: Responding to New Federal Regulations
Panelists analyzed consumer demand for fuel economy and how lower gasoline prices can affect future fuel savings.
Policy Leadership Series — Oct 15, 2015
US Climate Policy: How We Got Here and What it Means for the Future
At this RFF Policy Leadership Forum, Bob Nordhaus, one of the most respected figures in US energy policy circles, discussed the evolution of US climate policy and its future prospects.
Press Release — Sep 9, 2020
How Incentives to Scrap Old Cars Can Be More Cost-Effective
New research shows that incentives to scrap old cars can be more effective by targeting high-emissions cars that would otherwise stay on the road.
Press Release — Feb 5, 2020
New Study: “What Does Ridesharing Replace?”
A new working paper investigates how the availability of ridesharing affects traffic, air pollution, and public transit use.
Press Release — Dec 31, 2019
New Episode of Resources Radio: "2019 Year in Review: Energy and Environmental Policy, with Susan Tierney and Sarah Ladislaw"
Susan Tierney and Sarah Ladislaw discuss the most significant developments in environmental and energy policy over the last year.
Common Resources — Mar 31, 2020
The Proposed Rollback of Fuel Economy Standards Ignores Their Societal Benefits
Despite ongoing attempts to weaken the Obama-era guidelines, fuel economy standards have offered more benefits than costs to consumers.
On the Issues — Feb 28, 2020
JPMorgan’s New Climate Commitments, Hydrogen’s Low-Carbon Potential, and More
Connecting this week's environmental and energy news to RFF's economic research.
Resources Radio — Dec 31, 2019
2019 Year in Review: Energy and Environmental Policy, with Susan Tierney and Sarah Ladislaw
Susan Tierney and Sarah Ladislaw discuss the most significant developments in environmental and energy policy over the last year.