29 cents more for petrol – a Problem?

The SVP makes no Wank. Your position paper to the transport policy , they have presented this Morning, contains well-Known. The party speaks, among other things, levy on fuels from decidedly against CO2. Such a policy-driven increase in the price of petrol and Diesel had failed in Parliament so far on the resistance of the SVP, FDP and CVP. But since the liberals the Basis of the call for such a levy, according to the has become, has opened up political space for this measure.

all the More the SVP warns against the "growing rip-off" of the motorists. And reminds you of France, where, in the last autumn, citizens of the so-called yellow Western movement had formed – out of anger over the government Macron, for reasons of climate policy, the fuel gasoline to the equivalent of 3 cents per litre, Diesel wanted to increase the price: 7 cents. "Such developments," the SVP is convinced, "are also conceivable in Switzerland."

In the political poker of up to 20 cents per litre

a rise in the price of fuels has also wrestled with the Swiss policy, last December. The SVP wanted the controlled, politically – charge 5 cents per Liter lids, the left-Green at 20 cents. The national Council was, finally, at 8 cents, recessed, however, later in the final vote, the Revision of the CO2 act – and thus also the Fuel price increase. From the table it is not. The preparatory Committee of the Council of States advises the template currently.

Remarkable seems to be, how passionate politicians about a few centimes surcharge can argue, meanwhile, the price of fuel is also exposed to without her influence in part to far greater fluctuations. Various factors play a role as, for example, the price of Oil, the exchange rate of the dollar to the Swiss franc, the cost of freight for transportation on the Rhine, the General economic situation and the political Situation in oil-exporting countries.

surcharge of 20 per cent in two years

in 2016, a Liter of Diesel cost in Switzerland, an average of 1.45 Swiss francs, 2018, it was 1.74–, a surcharge of 29 cents, or 20 percent, more so than the left-Green demands in the national Council. In gasoline, the increase was similar. In the last ten years, most motorists 2012: 1.93 Swiss francs for a Liter of Diesel, 1.81 francs for a litre of petrol had to pay.

any Such Price fluctuations concerns for discussion. As, for example, in 2008, the price of petrol ten years within had risen from 1.15 Swiss francs to 2 francs, languages politicians of a "dramatic Situation", the media speculated about further rising prices on 3 francs per litre, and widespread reports of increased Gasoline thefts, for example, in the Canton of Vaud. But no protest movement like in France – with all its negative side effects, such as violence. The drivers were able to cope with the premiums, apparently, financially.

The crux of short-term fluctuations

Completely without a trace is not passing On to motorists. You are a short-term way to change the drivers of your behavior. "You can. your behavior in General, not from one day to the next change," says Massimo Filippini, Professor of energy Economics at the ETH Zurich

there Is a charge, however, in the Form of a CO2 tax, is so durable, tend to be the motorists according to the experts, in the long term, the new story to adapt – by driving less, more efficient vehicle purchase or with other, more favorable means of transport. The price rise a few cents, get it in the long term, to a demand reduction, Filippini. "However, this is only a few percentage points."

CO2 levy regional differentiation?

In a study shows Filippini, that the inhabitants of rural areas are less responsive to price increases than city-dwellers. In the case of a price increase of 20 cents per Liter, the demand for gasoline and Diesel is reduced approximately in the Zurich area of 3.6 to 5.2 per cent, while it is in the Bernese Oberland, only 3.2 to 3.4 percent. Filippini explains this phenomenon, not least with the infrastructure In the peripheral regions it is more difficult on public transport to Dodge.

A CO2 levy on fuels Filippini considers appropriate, as an incentive fee, which will be distributed to the population. A lot of drivers would have to pay under the dash on it, better would be to who is less or not at all with the car on the road. The return distribution, says Filippini, but it should be done, taking into account the urban-rural inequality. This means that The residents of rural areas received a higher amount than those in the cities.

Only due to the rational

Decide How would the tax impact would depend in just of your design. Filippini points out that the people would only conduct so rational, as it provides the Homo oeconomicus. This is evidenced, for example, in the case of decide to Buy. A lot of people were not able to provide a Total cost estimate, so, for example, when car purchasing to take into account only the purchase price, but also the consequential costs, such as over - or under-expenditure, resulting from the height of the fuel consumption. "An incentive tax can only unfold their full effect, if the people decide rationally." (Editorial Tamedia)

Created: 03.05.2019, 18:15 PM