UNU-MERIT Working Papers Series
The dynamics of vehicle energy efficiency: Evidence from the Massachusetts Vehicle Census
Sheng Zhong #2016-014Using a rich quarterly panel dataset containing about 3.9 million
vehicles in Massachusetts over the period 2008q1 - 2011q4, this paper is
attempts to improve the micro level empirical basis of the study of
population-level vehicle energy efficiency, and to provide some evidence
that supports policy making related to sustainable development with
regard to road vehicles. It (1) presents an aggregate vehicle energy
efficiency indicator (state and municipality level) by taking into
account vehicle heterogeneity, (2) investigates the contribution of
changes in the structure of the vehicle population that affect aggregate
vehicle energy efficiency and its growth, paying particular attention to
vehicles’ entry and exit, (3) explores the convergence and the Ergodic
distribution of aggregate vehicle energy efficiency between
municipalities, and (4) checks the socio-economic factors affecting the
distribution of vehicles over locations, and vehicle exit event. The
results confirm the importance of structural chance in the vehicle
population, convergence of aggregate vehicle energy efficiency between
municipalities and the crucial role of socio-economic factors in shaping
vehicles distribution.
Keywords: vehicle level micro data, vehicle energy efficiency dynamics,
decomposition, reallocation, convergence, socio-economic factors
JEL Classification: C55, O13
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