Browsing by Author "Hung, Shih Yu (Elsie)"

Now showing 1 - 7 of 7
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    COVID-19 and the Value of Safe Transport
    (2021) Medlock, Kenneth B. III; Loch-Temzelides, Ted P.; Hung, Shih Yu (Elsie); James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy
    We investigate the connection between the choice of transportation mode used by commuters and the probability of COVID-19 transmission. This interplay might influence the choice of transportation means for years to come. We present data on commuting, socioeconomic factors, and COVID-19 disease incidence for several US metropolitan areas. The data highlights important connections between population density and mobility, public transportation use, race, and increased likelihood of transmission. We use a transportation model to highlight the effect of uncertainty about transmission on the commuters’ choice of transportation means. Using multiple estimation techniques, we found strong evidence that public transit ridership in several US metro areas has been considerably impacted by COVID-19 and by the policy responses to the pandemic. Concerns about disease transmission had a negative effect on ridership, which is over and above the adverse effect from the observed reduction in employment. The COVID-19 effect is likely to reduce the demand for public transport in favor of lower density alternatives. This change relative to the status quo will have implications for fuel use, congestion, accident frequency, and air quality. More vulnerable communities might be disproportionally affected as a result. We point to the need for additional studies to further quantify these effects and to assist policy in planning for the post-COVID-19 transportation future.
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    COVID-19 and the value of safe transport in the United States
    (Springer Nature, 2021) Medlock, Kenneth B.; Temzelides, Ted; Hung, Shih Yu (Elsie); Center for Energy Studies, James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy
    We investigate the connection between the choice of transportation mode used by commuters and the probability of COVID-19 transmission. This interplay might influence the choice of transportation means for years to come. We present data on commuting, socioeconomic factors, and COVID-19 disease incidence for several US metropolitan areas. The data highlights important connections between population density and mobility, public transportation use, race, and increased likelihood of transmission. We use a transportation model to highlight the effect of uncertainty about transmission on the commuters’ choice of transportation means. Using multiple estimation techniques, we found strong evidence that public transit ridership in several US metro areas has been considerably impacted by COVID-19 and by the policy responses to the pandemic. Concerns about disease transmission had a negative effect on ridership, which is over and above the adverse effect from the observed reduction in employment. The COVID-19 effect is likely to reduce the demand for public transport in favor of lower density alternatives. This change relative to the status quo will have implications for fuel use, congestion, accident frequency, and air quality. More vulnerable communities might be disproportionally affected as a result. We point to the need for additional studies to further quantify these effects and to assist policy in planning for the post-COVID-19 transportation future.
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    Energy Subsidy Reform in the Persian Gulf: The End of the Big Oil Giveaway
    (James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, 2016) Krane, Jim; Hung, Shih Yu (Elsie); James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy
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    ERCOT Froze in February 2021. What Happened? Why Did It Happen? Can It Happen Again?
    (James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, 2022) Hartley, Peter R.; Medlock, Kenneth B. III; Hung, Shih Yu (Elsie); James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy
    A step-by-step examination of various factors that were blamed for the extended power outage on the ERCOT electricity grid in February 2021 reveals that no single factor fully explains the calamity. All forms of generation capacity experienced failures, but bureaucratic failure in identifying and addressing risks along fuel supply chains was a major failure. Moreover, most proposed remedies do not fundamentally address what occurred. Some may be driven by opportunistic lobbying. We make several recommendations, some of which are already being implemented.
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    Houston Energy Dialogues 2022
    (2023) Medlock, Kenneth B. III; Hung, Shih Yu (Elsie); James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy
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    Policy support for biochar: Review and recommendations
    (Wiley, 2018) Pourhashem, Ghasideh; Hung, Shih Yu (Elsie); Medlock, Kenneth B. III; Masiello, Caroline A.; James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy
    Significant evidence has accumulated demonstrating that soil biochar amendment has many environmental benefits; however, adoption has been slow. This raises the question of how to align the environmental benefits with commercial motivations to drive more widespread implementation. Here, we examine the role that government policy can play in accelerating production and use at commercial scale. We identify three types of programs that can support biochar production: commercial financial incentives, nonfinancial policy support, and research and development funding. We also describe how these programs are currently used to support biochar production. For example, financial incentives can motivate immediate changes in business practices while nonfinancial policies can be important mechanisms to educate consumers and expand market demand. Research and development support can provide the necessary funding for early‐stage innovations that may one day become commercially viable options, even without other types of policy support. There are different risk–reward profiles for each policy mechanism, and these must be considered when evaluating a policy direction. Finally, we offer broad recommendations to the development of policy that maximizes the net benefits of biochar adoption. Key recommendations include improving policies that allow for the monetization of environmental benefits and avoided costs, recognizing soil as a resource through national preservation policy, and developing a broadly accepted set of product standards for biochar.
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    Using Satellite Data to Crack the Great Wall of Secrecy Around China’s Internal Oil Flows
    (2018) Collins, Gabriel; Hung, Shih Yu (Elsie); James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy