Abstract This study investigates the impact of economic incentives on travel-related physical activity, leveraging the London Congestion Charge’s disincentivising of sedentary travel modes via increasing the cost of private car use within Central London. The scheme imposes charges on most types of cars entering, exiting, and operating within the Central London area, while individuals living inside the charging zone are eligible for a 90% reduction in congestion charges. Geographical location information provides the full-digit postcode data necessary to precisely identify the eligibility for the discount of participants in the London Travel Demand Survey for the period 2005–2011. Using a boundary regression-discontinuity design reveals a statistically significantly positive impact on active commuting (i.e. cycling and walking) around the border of the charging zone. The effect is larger for lower-income households and car owners. The findings are robust against multiple specifications and validation tests.

中文翻译：

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经济激励措施会促进身体活动吗？伦敦拥堵费的证据

摘要本研究调查了经济激励措施对与旅行相关的身体活动的影响，利用伦敦拥堵费通过增加伦敦市中心私家车的使用成本来抑制久坐的出行方式。该计划对进入、离开和在伦敦市中心地区运营的大多数类型的汽车征收费用，而居住在收费区内的个人有资格获得 90% 的拥堵费减免。地理位置信息提供了精确识别 2005-2011 年期间伦敦旅行需求调查参与者折扣资格所需的全数字邮政编码数据。使用边界回归-不连续性设计揭示了对充电区边界周围的主动通勤（即骑自行车和步行）具有统计上显着的积极影响。对于低收入家庭和车主来说，影响更大。研究结果对于多项规范和验证测试来说是稳健的。