Commuting subsidies in Belgium
Type de matériel :
30
This paper seeks to quantify the size and traffic effects of different commuting subsidies in Belgium. To this end we implement the most recently available data on the personal income tax treatment of commuting reimbursements by employers, company cars and subsidies to rail commuters in the PLANET model. We find that subsidy rates tend to differ strongly by mode and by type of reimbursement. Commuting by own car is generally subsidized at low levels, if it enjoys any subsidy at all. Commuting by company car, bike and public transport enjoy relatively high levels of subsidization. Policy simulations show the importance of commuting subsidies in steering the modal split. Both the exemptions for commuting reimbursements as well as subsidies for rail commuters moderately steer traffic away from private transport, while also lengthening the average commute. The company car regime, however, decisively favours the car as a commuting mode. This points to an inconsistency in policy objectives. Jel Classification: D62, H24, R41
Réseaux sociaux