Unit 7: Sustainable Transport

Question 1

What are the two dimensions of technology neutrality?

Answer 1

• Intervention at predefined policy objective level
• No discrimination among individual technologies

Question 2

Name three rationales for technology specificity.

Answer 2

• Regulator’s Information Level
• Limited Technology Openness
• Multiple Policy Objectives

Question 3

Why is strict technology neutrality not considered economically reasonable for road transportation?

Answer 3

Alternative technologies require specific regulation due to:
- Infrastructure requirements
- High upfront costs
- Multiple policy objectives

Question 4

List some main fields of climate policy action for transport.

Answer 4

1. Market phase-out of fossil fuels
2. Infrastructure roll-out for low-carbon technologies
3. Development and diffusion of low-carbon technologies
4. Technology choice
5. Mobility behavior modification

Question 5

What are the four key selection criteria for policy instruments in transport?

Answer 5

• Effectiveness
• Cost efficiency
• Sustainability and dynamic efficiency
• Multiple policy objectives

Question 6

What are the three assumptions mentioned in the text regarding technology neutrality in economic theory?

Answer 6

• Information advantage of private actors
• Technology-open decision space
• Single policy objective (efficient decarbonization)

Question 7

Which technologies benefit more from technology neutrality?

Answer 7

Fossil-fueled engines benefit more from technology neutrality.

Question 8

What are the three types of multiple policy objectives for technology specificity?

Answer 8

• Environmental goals
• Distributional objectives
• Industrial policy objectives

Question 9

Name the main implementation challenges for transport.

Answer 9

• Asymmetric information and market conditions
• Environmental uncertainty
• Political and societal feasibility
• Technological path dependencies

Question 10

What are the five recommendations for instrument mix for transport?

Answer 10

• Address all climate policy action fields simultaneously
• Combine technology-neutral and specific instruments
• Align technology-specific instruments with economic rationale
• Consider implementation challenges
• Take political action despite imperfect solutions

Question 11

What does technology openness refer to?

Answer 11

Technology openness refers to undistorted decision space where all societal costs and benefits are considered, resulting in efficient technology choice.