Rationing Can Backfire : The ' Day Without a Car ' in Mexico City Gunnar S

In Mexico Ciy, a ban restricting each car from driving on a specified work-The "Day Without a Car" day actually increased total in Mexico City driving and congestion. In November 1989, Mexico City's administration Some feel that it may be so inefficient that it is imposed a regulation banning each car from driving on a counterproductive. And Eskeland and Feyzioglu found specific day of the week. The regulation has been both evidence to support that view. Many households bought popular and controversial. Some feel that it is a an additional car to get additional "driving permits," and reasonable concession aimed to alleviate congestion and the amount of driving increased. Greater use of old cars pollution problems. Others feel it is both inefficient and and increased weekend driving may have contributed to unfair: inefficient in the way most rationing systems are the disappointing results of Mexico's one-day ban on inefficient, and unfair in that it is costly to some and driving: high welfare costs and none of the intended easily avoided or accommodated by others. benefits. The Policy Research Working Paper Series disseminates the findings of work in progress to encourage the exchange of ideas about development issues. An objective of the series is to get the findings out quickly, even if the presentations are less than fully polished. The papers carry the names of the authors and should be used and cited accordingly. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions are the authors' own and should not be attributed to the World Bank, its Executive Board of Directors, or any of its member countries. We would like to thank our colleagues without implicating them.