Decreasing Transportation-Related Air Pollution: The Case of Hungary's Capital City.* A. Vari, J. W. Rohrbaugh, and J. L. Mumpower, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Institute for Social Conflict Research, 1068 Budapest, Benczur u. 33, Hungary; and Center for Policy Research, State University of New York, University at Albany, 135 Western Avenue, Albany, NY 12222
Budapest, the capital city of Hungary, inhabited by about two million residents, is one of the most heavily polluted regions of the country. Emission of hazardous air pollutants by motor vehicles is one of the most important factors of air contamination in most parts of the city. A task force, involving medical and technical experts, representatives of the Budapest city government and an environmental group, was established to identify the most efficient policy interventions to reduce transportation-related air contamination by the year 2000. Potential interventions were associated with city planning, development and organization of transportation, laws and regulations, financial incentives, and communication. A cost-benefit analysis was conducted where the benefits of potential interventions were defined as the anticipated decrease of health risk caused by air pollution, while costs included commitments of public resources. The paper presents the process and the results of cost-benefit analysis, including a series of individual interviews and facilitated group sessions, as well as the application of resource allocation models.
*Work supported by the National Science Foundation under Contract No. INT-9014357.