Date of Award

Spring 6-12-2026

Document Type

Masters Thesis

Degree Name

M.A. in Economics

Organizational Unit

College of Arts Humanities and Social Sciences, Economics

First Advisor

Juan Carlos Lopez

Copyright Statement / License for Reuse

All Rights Reserved
All Rights Reserved.

Keywords

Congestion pricing, Urban economics, London, Singapore, New York City, Political viability

Abstract

Urban traffic congestion imposes large costs through wasted time, excess fuel consumption, air pollution, and lost productivity. Although congestion pricing has been recognized as the economically efficient remedy since Pigou and Vickrey, implementation has been rare. This thesis examines the conditions under which congestion pricing succeeds by analyzing three pioneering cases: London, Singapore, and New York City. Across all three, charges reduced traffic volumes and improved speeds within the priced zones. Benefits extended beyond cordon boundaries, with measurable improvements on untolled suburban roads. The distributional effects depended on how revenues were recycled rather than on the charge itself. Political viability, not technical design, proved the binding constraint on implementation. The findings indicate that congestion pricing achieves its objectives under specific conditions: dense, transit-rich cores; natural cordon boundaries; strong executive or technocratic governance; and visible reinvestment of revenues into transit. For cities that can assemble these conditions, congestion pricing offers an effective tool for aligning private driving behavior with social welfare.

Copyright Date

6-2026

Publication Statement

Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.

Rights Holder

Ian Ertel

Provenance

Received from ProQuest

File Format

application/pdf

Language

English (eng)

Extent

84 pgs

File Size

697 KB

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