Title: Optimal restrictions on vehicle use for urban sustainability for Mexico City

Authors: Haynes C. Goddard

Addresses: Department of Economics, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45221-0371, USA; Department of Economics, Instituto Tecnologico Autonomo de Mexico, D.F., Mexico

Abstract: This paper describes and develops the conditions that make the demand side policy of vehicle use restrictions part of a cost-effective set of environmental control policies. Mexico City|s experience with vehicle use restrictions is described and its failure analysed. It is argued that Mexico City took a step in the right direction, but failed to make the restrictions flexible, thereby making the policy perverse. A programme of tradable vehicle use permits is presented and described that would provide the needed flexibility and promote urban sustainability.

Keywords: air quality; congestion control; cost effectiveness; environmental economics; environmental management; urban sustainability; tradable permits; vehicle use; Mexico City; sustainable development; air pollution; environmental pollution; vehicle permits; vehicle emissions.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.1997.028310

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 1997 Vol.7 No.3, pp.357 - 374

Published online: 16 Sep 2009 *

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