The Gothenburg congestion charges: cost–benefit analysis and distribution effects

This paper performs an ex-post cost–benefit and distribution analysis of the Gothenburg congestion charges introduced in 2013, based on observed effects and an ex-post evaluated transport model. Although Gothenburg is a small city with congestion limited to the highway junctions, the congestion charge scheme is socially beneficial, generating a net surplus of €20 million per year. From a financial perspective, the investment cost was repaid in slightly more than a year and, from a social surplus perspective, is repaid in < 4 years. Still, the sums that are redistributed in Gothenburg are substantially larger than the net benefit. In the distribution analysis we develop an alternative welfare rule, where the utility is translated to money by dividing the utility by the average marginal utility of money, thereby avoiding putting a higher weight on high-income people. The alternative welfare rule shows larger re-distribution effects, because paying charges is more painful for low-income classes due to the higher marginal utility of money. Low-income citizens pay a larger share of their income because all income classes are highly car dependent in Gothenburg and workers in the highest income class have considerably higher access to company cars for private trips. No correlation was found between voting pattern and gains, losses or net gain.

     

严格内部管理提升服务水平全力打造全路品牌货运站

西安铁路局西安西站通过严格内部管理、提升服务水平、拓展服务、功能树立现代企业形象和挖潜扩能提高效率,促进车站发展,为打造全路品牌货运站做出了有益的尝试。     

积极开拓创新提升货运管理水平

西安西站按照铁道部、铁路局的总体部署,发挥专业管理职能作用,以适应新形势、创新货运安全管理为主线,从深化专项整治内涵、整合信息资源、推进战略装车点建设及优化货运作业流程等方面,积极推进货运管理改革和货运信息化建设,提高货运管理水平。     

哈雷考虑迁厂

近日．重型摩托车生产商哈雷·戴维森公司（HOG）表示，正在考虑搬迁位于美国宾夕法尼亚州的一座主要摩托车生产厂,以降低成本并应对销售额的下降。据悉，该公司正在与工会方面合作，对这座工厂进行评估。     

Environmental improvement on Narragansett Bay as a result of section 312 implementation of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act

Abstract

Section 312 of the Clean Waters Act was implemented in 1980 and requires all vessels including recreational boats already equipped with Marine Heads (toilets) to install one of three types of USCG approved Marine Sanitation Devices. These regulations govern all lakes and coastal waters extending to the end of the U.S. territorial sea and is intended to prevent untreated effluent from reaching the marine environment. As provisions of the Clean Water Act are exempt from provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act, no Environmental Impact Statement was written concerning the impacts to the marine environment and the cost to the boating public. The study based on a small survey conducted on Narragansett Bay during the summer of 1980 develops several empirical models to estimate the total costs of MSD conversions. These estimates assume that all recreational boats longer than 21 feet were to comply with Section 312 regulations. Biological Oxygen Demand generated waste by both the resident and visiting fleets have also been estimated and costs per lbs. of BOD equivalent made. Based on these estimates the quantity of waste prevented from entering the receiving waters equals that of a community with less than 700 people. The capital investments of on‐board treatment approximates 30 ¢/gallon, nearly 1000 times the cost of treating municipal waste.