Summary

This paper evaluates public policy options for responding to rising fuel prices. There is popular support for policies to minimize retail prices by reducing fuel taxes or providing production subsidies. But price-minimization policies are likely to harm consumers and the economy overall by encouraging transportation system inefficiency. Fuel price reductions are an inappropriate way to provide affordable mobility to low-income households; other strategies can do more to increase affordability while also increasing transport system efficiency. Because many transportation decisions are durable, low fuel price policies will increase total future fuel costs, harming the future economy. Rather than reducing fuel prices it would be better to allow prices to rise and simultaneously working to improve transport system efficiency.

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Todd Alexander Litman
Victoria Transport Policy Institute (www.vtpi.org)
litman@vtpi.org
Phone & Fax 250-360-1560
1250 Rudlin Street, Victoria, BC, V8V 3R7, CANADA