Sustainability Cost of Automobile Dependency in 100 American Cities

Sheehan, Ryan

Sustainability Cost of Automobile Dependency in 100 American Cities

Persistent URL

https://hdl.handle.net/10456/59192

Author(s)

Sheehan, Ryan

Date Issued

April 6, 2025

Abstract

I used cross-sectional data from the 100 most populous cities in the United States to determine the impact of automobile dependency on social, environmental, and economic sustainability outcomes. This research departed from previous literature by using data from cities rather than states and by incorporating urban sprawl as a measure of automobile dependency. Sustainability outcomes were quantified using traffic fatalities per 100,000 people as a measure of social costs, air quality as a measure of environmental costs, and vehicle ownership as a measure of economic costs. Measures of automobile dependency included vehicle miles traveled (VMT) per capita, three measures of population density, and two measures of commute mode. My findings indicate that VMT per capita is associated with increased traffic fatalities and increased vehicle ownership. The proportion of commuters who do not drive is associated with lower traffic fatalities, better air quality, and fewer vehicles per household. Contrary to my prediction, the proportion of drivers who carpool is associated with increased traffic fatalities. Measures of population density yielded conflicting results.

Major

Economics

Honors

Business and Economics, 2025

First Reader(s)

Navarro-Sanchez, Francisco