Gas Prices, Traffic, and Freeway Speeds in Los Angeles
利用2001-2006年洛杉矶12条高速公路的详细速度数据，研究汽油价格对驾驶行为的影响，发现拥堵时段价格上升会提高车速，并估算出高峰时段的短期行驶里程需求弹性。
Using detailed data on traffic speeds for 12 Los Angeles freeway routes from 2001 to 2006, we investigate aggregate behavioral response to gasoline prices. If traffic is free flowing, drivers should slow to more fuel-efficient speeds as the price of gasoline rises. However, we find little evidence that drivers respond to increased fuel costs by slowing down. When congestion constrains traffic flow, freeway speeds should rise with gasoline price, and we find a $1.00 increase in price raises average freeway speeds by approximately 7% during rush-hour periods. Finally, we introduce a novel method to calculate the short-run vehicle miles traveled demand elasticity during rush hour. Copyright by the President and Fellows of Harvard College and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.