Road-Pricing: Enhancing Acceptability in The Netherlands

Meike Henseleit

Geertje Schuitema, Jens Schade, Sebastian Bamberg

Ines Thronicker

Fabio de CristoSebastian Seebauer

Denise ObstMauricio Leandro

Ingrid Luiza NetoNicole Huijts

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Problem

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How to make the planned transport pricing scheme effective and acceptable?

Government of The Netherlands plans to implement km-based charge in 2012

Research aim: How to enhance acceptability?

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Theoretical Model

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Action Model Study I

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Situational Factors:

- Price Differentiation- Revenue Allocation- Information- Way of decision making- ...

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Study I

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Research Question& Hypothesis Research question: How does the allocation of

revenues influence the acceptability of the new system?

Revenue allocations concern benefits for different goals and therefore can be perceived differently by people

People with different value orientations perceive the benefits and costs differently-> acceptability

This influences perceived outcome expectation and perceived fairness-> acceptability

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Study I

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Method Questionnaire study

Between subjects design

6 revenue allocations

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Subsidies for energy efficient cars

Nature improvement

Reduce fixed taxes

Road infrastructure

Better health care

Public transport

Explanation of kilometer-charge policy

Study I

Egoistic Biospheric Altruistic

Values: - egoistic- biospheric- altruistic

Perceived personal and collective costs and benefits

Perceived fairness:- fairness of division of costs and benefits

Acceptability

Socio-demographics, current travel behavior

Method Study I

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Action Model Study II

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Situational Factors:

- Price Differentiation- Revenue Allocation- Information- Way of decision making- ...

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IStudy II

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Research Question& Hypothesis

Could a Participatory Approach (PA) to decision making process increase the acceptability of a road pricing scheme compared to a non-participatory approach?

Example of Hypothesis:

Could the perception of fairness be increased by a Participatory Approach (PA)?

No minority needs are disregarded (distributive

justice)

Participation increases procedural fairness

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IStudy II

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Method Study II

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Method A sample of pairs of matched cities similar in

demographics, infrastructure, traffic situation and reasonable distance apart from each other

Randomly choose 3 pairs (1 urban, 1 suburban, 1 rural)

Randomly assign to participatory / non-participatory condition

Longitudinal survey in 3-6 months intervals Telephone interviews Multiple baselines Yearly follow-ups

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IStudy II

Which revenue allocation is perceived as the most acceptable How do people perceive outcome expectations for themselves

and for the society as a whole for each revenue scheme Which revenue allocation is perceived as most fair How to communicate about transport pricing with respect to

revenue allocation, in order to increase acceptability To provide concrete info about how to improve the decision

making process by using a participatory approach... A bottom-up approach will lead to a higher impact on social

norms, trust, a.s.o. and, finally a higher level of acceptability for road pricing measures than a non-participatory, top-down scheme.

Expected Results (Study I + II)