DISTRIBUTIONAL CHANGES IN CONSUMER TRANSPORTATION EXPENDITURES: 1972-1985

From 1972 to 1985, there were two periods of substantial increases in energy prices and one period of price decreases. Along with other macroeconomic events and policies, the combined impact has altered the distribution of income and transportation expenditures. Using U.S. Department of Labor statistics, the expenditures by families of different incomes on new and used vehicles and gasoline and total transportation spending can be examined. It was determined that wealthier families continued to purchase new cars; poor families drove less energy efficient autos. Transportation recently consumed more than 50 percent of a poor family's cash income. The greatest beneficiaries of lower energy prices would be the poor.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1988/1197/1197-005.pdf
• Record URL:
  https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=DISTRIBUTIONAL+CHANGES+IN+CONSUMER+TRANSPORTATION+EXPENDITURES%3A+1972-1985&author=S.+Rock&publication_year=1988
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309047668
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper appears in Transportation Research Record No. 1197, Transportation Finance and Economic Analysis Issues. 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:
  • Rock, Steven M
• Publication Date: 1988

Media Info

• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 44-48
• Monograph Title: Transportation finance and economic analysis issues
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 1197
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automobiles; Consumers; Costs; Energy consumption; Expenditures; Gasoline; Impacts; Income; Low income groups; Physical distribution; Prices; Purchasing; Statistics; Transportation
• Uncontrolled Terms: Decreases; Disadvantaged persons; Increase
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Economics; Energy; Society; Transportation (General); I10: Economics and Administration;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00489548
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309047668
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Nov 30 1990 12:00AM