The social costs of traffic : a literature review

The report starts with a brief consideration of the economic theory of optimal pricing. Chapter 3 reviews government expenditure on road traffic-infrastructure, traffic police and government services and relates this to the government revenue from specific traffic taxes and charges. A systematic review is given of the major studies on the external costs of traffic. Most of the reports considered are integrated studies; the detailed studies on individual issues that underlie the results have not been consulted or verified. Chapter 5 provides a review of the literature on the posiible external benefits of traffic. In the last chapter the results are evaluated and conclusions and recommendations presented.