The Commuting Costs of High-Intensity Rains: Evidence From Rio de Janeiro

54 Pages Posted: 5 Dec 2022 Last revised: 13 Jan 2024

Date Written: November 22, 2022

Abstract

This paper examines the impacts of recurrent high-intensity rains (HIRs) on the public transportation system of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. I use a novel dataset composed of the city buses’ GPS information and public transport supply and demand data. I find that: 1) HIRs reduce peak hours bus average speeds by 1.73% to 8.94%, and 2) there is a slight increase in demand for the public transportation system when the city undergoes a highly disruptive HIR. The estimated yearly wage opportunity cost of HIR-derived slowdowns is 678.00 million reais, which is equivalent to 0.20% of the GDP of Rio and 3.57% of its total yearly traffic-derived wage opportunity cost.

Keywords: high-intensity rains, public transportation, commuting costs

JEL Classification: O18, Q54, R41, R42, L92

Suggested Citation

Chaves Maia, Pedro Henrique, The Commuting Costs of High-Intensity Rains: Evidence From Rio de Janeiro (November 22, 2022). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4283281 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4283281

Pedro Henrique Chaves Maia (Contact Author)

FGV/EPGE ( email )

Praia de Botafogo 190/1125, CEP
Rio de Janeiro RJ 22253-900
Brazil
+55 21 992930880 (Phone)

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