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The Politics of Motor Fuel Taxes and Infrastructure Funds in France and the United States
Author(s) -
Dunn James A.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
policy studies journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.773
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 1541-0072
pISSN - 0190-292X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1541-0072.1993.tb01821.x
Subject(s) - fuel tax , treasury , revenue , finance , motor fuel , competition (biology) , politics , state (computer science) , tax revenue , alternative fuel vehicle , government (linguistics) , business , tax competition , economics , economic policy , public economics , double taxation , ad valorem tax , political science , alternative fuels , law , engineering , philosophy , algorithm , waste management , ecology , linguistics , computer science , biology , gasoline , diesel fuel
The US. and France have adopted contrasting models of motor fuel tax and highway finance policy. Fuel tax revenues are dedicated to state and federal highway funds in America, keeping taxes quite low, but preventing them from contributing to the general treasury. French motor fuel taxes are higher and make up nearly 11 percent of the central government's general revenues, excluding social security contributions. French highway finance relies heavily on tolls. Pressure from the US. federal deficit has reduced the highway trust fund's ability to protect highway spending from budgetary competition. Political and procedural changes in Congress make it likely that the U.S.will move away from exclusive dedication of motor fuel taxes.