Gasoline prices and road fatalities: international evidence

Date

2015-07

Authors

Burke, Paul J.
Nishitateno, Shuhei

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Wiley

Abstract

This study utilizes data for 144 countries from 1991 to 2010 to present the first international estimates of the gasoline price elasticity of road fatalities. We instrument each country’s gasoline price with that country’s oil reserves and the yearly international crude oil price to address potential endogeneity concerns. Our findings suggest that the average reduction in road fatalities resulting from a 10% increase in the gasoline pump price is in the order of 3%–6%. Around 35,000 road deaths per year could be avoided by the removal of global fuel subsidies.

Description

Keywords

gasoline price elasticity, road fatalities, international, crude oil price, global fuel subsidy

Citation

Source

Economic Inquiry

Type

Working/Technical Paper

Book Title

Entity type

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