Straßenmaut und Verkehrsstaus

Andrea Schrage studies the possibilities of using congestion tolls to direct the flow of traffic in an efficient way. She shows how the imposition of appropriate user fees can maximize the economic advantages of road usage. In order to direct the flow of traffic efficiently, it is crucial to differentiate toll charges between roads and times with varying degrees of congestion. A toll equal to marginal external congestion costs reduces the number of vehicles wherever excessive road usage leads to welfare losses, and it also results in a more even utilization of the roads. In addition to the theoretical advantages of a congestion charge, Andrea Schrage discusses the practical means of controlling traffic congestion on German roads by levying a toll.