The role of revenue use in the acceptability of transport pricing policies

Generally, pricing policies are believed to be effective in reducing problems of massive car use. However, pricing policies are not easily implemented, as they are hardly acceptable to the public. Studies indicate that revenue allocation is important for the acceptability of transport pricing. However, this has never systematically been examined. In the present study, revenue allocation is systematically examined, using between-subjects and within-subjects designs. Results revealed that transport pricing is more acceptable if revenues are allocated to the transport system instead of to general public funds. The between-subjects designs revealed that investing revenues in road infrastructure was hardly acceptable, while this type of revenue allocation was evaluated more favourably when following a within-subjects design. This suggests that the chosen design should dovetail with the aim or the study. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.