Geertje Schuitema

Behavioural Responses To Transport Pricing: A Theoretical Analysis

This chapter provides a psychological perspective on transport pricing. We first describe to what extent and under which conditions transport pricing may be effective in reducing car use, and consequently, in reducing the problems caused by car use. Next, we review factors influencing the acceptability of transport pricing and provide theoretical explanations for the significance of these factors. The role of policies features as well as individual characteristics will be discussed. We elaborate on the role of justice and fairness, and discuss relationships between (perceived) effectiveness and acceptability of transport pricing. Policy implications and important topics for future research will be highlighted.

Are pricing policies effective to change car use

The effectiveness of transport pricing was considered in two studies regarding intended changes in car use if pricing policies were implemented. In the first study, respondents kept a travel diary for four days, noting all their car trips. Next, they indicated to what extent various pricing policies would affect the trips noted in the diary. In the second study, respondents indicated their intention to change their car use for various types of trips if pricing measures were implemented. By using tailored questionnaires, accurate feedback was provided about the financial consequences of pricing for each respondent separately. Results revealed that under pricing policies most people did not intend to change their car use. Pricing policies were relatively more effective when prices increased significantly. Especially visiting and shopping trips were affected, while commuting trips were hardly affected. Moreover, respondents were most likely to reduce their car use for short trips, which are an important source of CO 2 emissions and local air pollution.

Car Users’ Acceptability of a Kilometre Charge

This chapter argues that individual car users will consider two types of effects when evaluating the acceptability of road pricing: effects on the problems resulting form car use (for example congestion) and effects of their own car use. The authors content that the latter will depend on the degree to which a car user can cope with expected cost increases, which will be related to factors like annual kilometers traveled, income and price level. The authors next examine how acceptability judgments are related to possibilities of evading transport-pricing policies, and the extent to which car users are compensated for negative consequences via revenue allocations.

The Consumer's Role in Flexible Energy Systems: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Changing Consumers' Behavior

A transition to fossil-free energy systems is necessary to secure a safe, reliable, and sustainable future. This implies increasing shares of renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, and introduces new challenges in terms of flexibility, storage, and energy transmission. Consumers play a crucial role in achieving this energy transition, as consumer flexibility is required to accommodate variable generation and peak loads. This implies that consumers become more flexible in their energy use and adopt technologies that facilitate greater reliance on renewable energy sources.

Consumer Behavior: Why Engineers Need to Read About It [Guest Editorial]

Energy involves everybody. Current changes in energy and power systems, including the distributed production of renewables, an increasing need for flexibility of operations, and energy storage and transmission, affect consumers in one way or another. Changes often require the active participation and support of consumers, who may become prosumers. All the new systems and technologies developed by electrical engineers may influence consumer behavior and trigger positive or negative responses. Hence, it is important for electrical engineers to understand how their work may affect consumers, which behavior changes their solutions involve, and which consumer needs and preferences must be considered when developing new technology. This issue encourages a conversation among electrical engineers and social scientists and facilitates the integration of their different expertise.

Firms’ Perception and Acceptability of Transport Pricing

Transport pricing is high on the political agenda throughout the world, but as the authors illustrate, governments seeking to implement this often face challenging questions and significant barriers. The associated policy and research questions cannot always be addressed adequately from a mono-disciplinary perspective. This book shows how a multi-disciplinary approach may lead to new types of analysis and insights, contributing to a better understanding of the intricacies of transport pricing and eventually to a potentially more effective and acceptable design of such policies. The study addresses important policy and research themes such as the possible motives for introducing road transport pricing and potential conflicts between these motives, behavioural responses to transport pricing for households and firms, the modelling of transport pricing, and the acceptability of pricing.