MEASURES OF THE IMPACTS OF CHANGES IN MOTOR-FUEL SUPPLY IN MASSACHUSETTS

During the past decade, a number of significant changes have occurred with respect to the supply of gasoline. Most notable of these changes have been price, which has increased dramatically, and availability, which has become less secure as a result of political developments. The impacts of these changes on the demand for motor fuel in Massachusetts over the 1967-1979 period are examined. The relation between gasoline sales and price, registered automobiles, fuel efficiency, income, and a number of other variables is analyzed, and statistical formulations are developed to express these relations. The analysis indicates that the principal response to these supply changes has been increased fuel efficiency, which results from both improved driving efficiency and higher mechanical efficiency. Only during periods of fuel shortages and substantial price increases have there actually been decreases in the amount of fuel sold. Otherwise, the rate of increase in fuel consumption has slowed down. The work to date suggests that further analysis would be useful to determine the specific impact of supply changes on the type and distribution of trips and to determine the ways in which travelers have accommodated themselves to such changes. (Authors)

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1981/801/801-009.pdf
• Summary URL:
  • http://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=MEASURES+OF+THE+IMPACTS+OF+CHANGES+IN+MOTOR-FUEL+SUPPLY+IN+MASSACHUSETTS&author=B.+Dansker&author=C.+Kalauskas&author=D.+Schreiber&publication_year=1981
• Availability:
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• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Energy Conservation and Transportation Demand. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Authors:
  • Dansker, Benjamin
  • Kalauskas, Charles
  • Schreiber, Deborah
• Conference:
  • 60th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board
  • Location: Washington District of Columbia, United States
  • Date: 1981-1-12 to 1981-1-16
• Publication Date: 1981

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 55-60
• Monograph Title: Energy: forecasting, data and conservation
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 801
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alternatives analysis; Automobiles; Demand; Fuel consumption; Fuels; Implementation; Income; Measurement; Prices; Sales; Supply; Travel
• Uncontrolled Terms: Supply and demand; Trip
• Geographic Terms: Massachusetts
• Subject Areas: Energy; Finance; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Research; Vehicles and Equipment; I96: Vehicle Operating Costs;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00342125
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309032156
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Jan 29 1982 12:00AM