Predicting the results of a referendum on urban road pricing in France: “the cry of Cassandra”?

Abstract

Introduction Abundant literature now exists on the acceptability of the new pricing measure represented by urban tolls. However, this literature contains few examples providing a Bpolitical^analysis of their introduction. Here, our aim is to study how the political behavior of individuals, identified on the basis of general attitudes regarding the principles of regulation and pricing, influences, or does not influence, attitudes with respect to urban tolls. Method We study the ex-ante determinants of a vote on urban tolls. We use the results of a survey performed in France in the framework of the European Project ExpAcc (Explanatory Factors of Road User Charging Acceptability). We process the data using a Principal Components Analysis (PCA) then perform ordered logit estimation.Result Regarding the specific question to the referendum, we show that it would be rejected by electors. We also show that there is a significant link between general attitudes to regulation by legislation, tax or pricing policies in transport on the one hand, and the vote in the referendum on tolls on the other. We confirm that individual self-interest matters a lot in political behaviour but that other types of motives also matter strongly Conclusion As a consequence, a real-life political analysis cannot be limited to classical Beconomic^variables, even if they matter too obviously. Lastly, our results should be placed in relation with those concerning the more global issue of the acceptability of a new pricing measure through, for example, that of the compensation to be implemented.

Designing Effective and Acceptable Road Pricing Schemes: Evidence from the Geneva Congestion Charge

“…Earmarking for public transportation improvements usually increases public support for road pricing schemes (Grisolía et al 2015;Corvec et al 2016), unless people do not expect additional funding for public transportation to lead to sizable improvements in their daily life (Allen et al 2006). Public transportation improvements may not only benefit the residents of the Canton of Geneva, but also commuters from the surrounding areas.…”

“… 2015 ; Corvec et al. 2016 ), unless people do not expect additional funding for public transportation to lead to sizable improvements in their daily life (Allen et al. 2006 ).…”

User Perspectives on Distance- and Time-Based Road Tolling Schemes: European Case Study

“…However, in contrast to this policy initiative, Europe faces significant challenges in harmonizing the different road pricing structures that arose as a result of different pricing schemes, price rates, and pricing technologies in the various European countries. In addition to the aforementioned policy objectives to introduce and harmonize road pricing in Europe, an important contrasting perspective is that of user acceptance and potential regressive impacts, which often relates to political acceptance of road pricing (Hensher and Bliemer 2014;Ison 2017;Li et al 2020;Rouhani 2018;Rouwendal and Verhoef 2006;Souche-Le Corvec et al 2016). From a user perspective, one must deal with alternative road pricing schemes, such as paying per kilometer traveled or paying for a certain amount of time on a given road network.…”