Skip to main content
Log in

Measuring tax incidence: a natural experiment in the hybrid vehicle market

  • Note
  • Published:
Environmental Economics and Policy Studies Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study measures the economic incidence of the hybrid vehicle tax credit implemented in the Energy Policy Act of 2005. By comparing hybrids with gasoline-powered counterparts as the credit was phased out and expired, we are able to isolate the impact of the credit on the market price of hybrid vehicles. We conclude that hybrid prices increase by $0.75 on average for every additional dollar of credit. Thus, the majority of the subsidy accrues to sellers, potentially encouraging producers to increase the variety and availability of hybrid models on the market.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Beresteanu A, Li S (2009) Gasoline prices, government support, and the demand for hybrid vehicles, International Economic Review, in press

  • Edmunds.com (2009) Understanding true market value prices. http://www.edmunds.com/popupinfo/abouttmvprices.html. Cited 10 June, 2009

  • Gallagher KS, Muehlegger E (2008) Giving green to get green: incentives and consumer adoption of hybrid vehicle technology. John F. Kennedy School of Government, Faculty Research Working Paper Series, RWP08-009

  • Kahn M (2007) Do greens drive Hummers or hybrids? Environmental ideology as a determinant of consumer choice. Journal of Environmental Economics and Management 54:129–145

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sallee JM (2008) Tax credits and the market for hybrid vehicles. Working paper, Department of Economics, University of Michigan

  • Toyota Motor Corporation (2008) Securities and Exchange Commission 2008 annual report. Form 20-F, 25 June, 2008

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

About this article

Cite this article

Boyle, M.A., Matheson, V.A. Measuring tax incidence: a natural experiment in the hybrid vehicle market. Environ Econ Policy Stud 10, 101–107 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03353981

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03353981

Key words

Navigation