IMF Working Papers

Rationing Rules and Outcomes: The Experience of Singapore’s Vehicle Quota System

By Ling H Tan

September 1, 2001

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Ling H Tan. Rationing Rules and Outcomes: The Experience of Singapore’s Vehicle Quota System, (USA: International Monetary Fund, 2001) accessed October 5, 2024
Disclaimer: This Working Paper should not be reported as representing the views of the IMF.The views expressed in this Working Paper are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of the IMF or IMF policy. Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to further debate

Summary

Since 1990, Singapore has sought to control motor vehicle ownership by means of an auction quota system, whereby prospective vehicle buyers need to obtain a quota license before they can make their purchase. This paper assesses the success of the vehicle quota system in meeting its objectives of stability in motor vehicle growth, flexibility in the motor vehicle mix, and equity among motor vehicle buyers. Two important implementation issues-quota subcategorization and license transferability-are highlighted, and policy lessons are drawn for the design of auction quotas in general.

Subject: Arbitrage, Commodities, Population and demographics, Population growth, Tax incidence, Tax policy, Taxes, Transaction tax

Keywords: Arbitrage, Auction quota, Auctions, Car buyer, Category license, License category, License price, Licenses, Pollution permit, Population growth, Price variable, Quota growth, Quota implementation, Quota license, Quota premium, Quotas, Rate of growth, Subcategorization, Supply and demand factor, Tax incidence, Transaction tax, Transferability, WP

Publication Details

  • Pages:

    30

  • Volume:

    ---

  • DOI:

    ---

  • Issue:

    ---

  • Series:

    Working Paper No. 2001/136

  • Stock No:

    WPIEA1362001

  • ISBN:

    9781451855814

  • ISSN:

    1018-5941