The Asphalting of America: How the Government Subsidizes Highway Pollution in the Boswash Smog Bank

Abstract

This article discusses the problem of air and noise pollution caused by motor vehicles circa the time of the article's writing (1972), and the public interest in dealing with these problems, in the light of federal government's conflicting interest in creating more roads. Mentioned is the fact that construction of more highways seems to be the federal government's answer to traffic congestion, while another point of view is that more highways encourages a rise in the number of motor vehicles on those roads. The article ends with some suggestions for how to deal with these problems.

Keywords: U.S. Government, air pollution, noise pollution, highways, congestion, automobiles, cars, motor vehicles, environment, Boswash Smog Bank, social costs, highway lobby, Federal Highway Administration, DOT

JEL Classification: R40, R41, R49, L92, L98, K32, I19