Hello, all,
This is my first post. I've just completed the draft of a paper on how oil-importing states and regions can conserve energy, improve their quality of life and stimulate regional economic development by taxing motor fuels more heavily and then rebating the net increase in gas tax revenues to owners of motor vehicles within their jurisdictions. I've done some policy simulations using the REMI regional model for the six New England states. A short version will be published in State Tax Notes and a longer version will go to a peer-reviewed academic journal. If you would like to see a draft copy, contact me at [email protected].
Richard England
Professor of Economics & Natural Resources
University of New Hampshire
Update:
Abstract.
Combustion of motor fuels has a variety of environmental impacts on local, regional and global scales. Taxing motor fuels more heavily would mitigate those impacts. However, many governments are reluctant to increase motor fuel taxes because they fear that the tax incidence will be regressive and that economic development will be impeded. Using data for the New England states, this paper argues that an oil-importing region can conserve energy, avoid regressive impacts and encourage economic development by raising motor fuel excises and rebating the net incremental revenues to owners of motor vehicles.
