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Something from nothing: estimating consumption rates using propensity scores, with application to emissions reduction policies
- Source :
- PLoS ONE, Vol 12, Iss 10, p e0185538 (2017), PLoS ONE
- Publication Year :
- 2017
-
Abstract
- Consumption surveys often record zero purchases of a good because of a short observation window. Measures of distribution are then precluded and only mean consumption rates can be inferred. We show that Propensity Score Matching can be applied to recover the distribution of consumption rates. We demonstrate the method using the UK National Travel Survey, in which c.40% of motorist households purchase no fuel. Estimated consumption rates are plausible judging by households' annual mileages, and highly skewed. We apply the same approach to estimate CO2 emissions and outcomes of a carbon cap or tax. Reliance on means apparently distorts analysis of such policies because of skewness of the underlying distributions. The regressiveness of a simple tax or cap is overstated, and redistributive features of a revenue-neutral policy are understated.
- Subjects :
- Atmospheric Science
Automobile Driving
Economics
Political Science
Materials Science
Social Sciences
lcsh:Medicine
Public Policy
Fuels
Surveys
Research and Analysis Methods
Skewness
Greenhouse Gases
Surveys and Questionnaires
Environmental Chemistry
Payment
Propensity Score
lcsh:Science
Materials by Attribute
Vehicle Emissions
Family Characteristics
Travel
Survey Research
Ecology and Environmental Sciences
lcsh:R
Chemical Compounds
Commerce
Taxes
Carbon Dioxide
Probability Theory
Probability Distribution
Rations
United Kingdom
Energy and Power
Chemistry
Resource Management (Economics)
Research Design
Atmospheric Chemistry
Physical Sciences
Earth Sciences
Engineering and Technology
Regression Analysis
lcsh:Q
Mathematics
Finance
Gasoline
Research Article
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 19326203
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- PLoS ONE, Vol 12, Iss 10, p e0185538 (2017), PLoS ONE
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....f018f8dbb9d5e2cb50cfd834f64c266a