Recent Streetsblog USA posts about Cash for Clunkers

‘Clunkers’ Consequences: GM Sales Down, Ford Gas-Guzzlers Up

By Elana Schor | Sep 1, 2009 | No Comments

When Congress tripled the size of the "cash for clunkers" program in July, both Congress and the White House billed the $3 billion program as a boon for struggling domestic automakers. But when those Detroit car companies released sales figures today, the numbers didn’t quite match up to the hype. (Photo: AFP/Getty) General Motors and […]

Few Cries From Congress for a Second Resurrection of “Cash for Clunkers”

By Elana Schor | Aug 21, 2009 | No Comments

One day after the Obama administration announced it would end the "cash for clunkers" program for good, the auto-state lawmakers who championed its creation have largely aligned with the decision and refrained from pushing for a third installment of the taxpayer-subsidized auto-purchase rebates. (Photo: MPR) Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI) told the Detroit News that Congress […]

As “Cash for Clunkers” Sputters, a Privately Funded Spinoff Picks Up

By Elana Schor | Aug 20, 2009 | No Comments

The U.S. DOT began signaling yesterday that it would bring the "cash for clunkers" program to an end amid growing unease from auto dealers about the government’s slow pace of reimbursement and General Motors’ decision to begin fronting "clunkers" repayments to its own salesmen. (Photo: AmericaJR.com) But with auto-industry forecasters predicting a cool 1 million […]

“Cash for Clunkers” Coming to a Close?

By Elana Schor | Aug 19, 2009 | No Comments

The Obama administration plans to close the door on the politically popular and environmentally slipshod auto trade-in program known as "cash for clunkers," according to a report this afternoon in the Wall Street Journal: Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said Wednesday he would disclose within two days updated figures on the program, including how much of […]

Could Electric-Car Tax Credits Become the Next “Cash for Clunkers”?

By Elana Schor | Aug 14, 2009 | No Comments

The White House’s commitment to electrified cars, fulfilling an Obama campaign promise to put 1 million plug-in hybrids into service by 2015, is bound to have serious ramifications for the nation’s already-crumbling system of paying for transportation. (Photo: MPR) But could the administration continue to leave the gas tax untouched while relying on taxpayer-subsidized rebates […]

The Times’ Thickheaded Train Tag Team

By Ryan Avent | Aug 14, 2009 | 1 Comment

The New York Times has now turned loose writers at two of its economics blogs to make weak arguments against the construction of high-speed rail lines. Eric Morris of UCLA’s Institute of Transportation Studies (Photo: ericandrewmorris.com) I have been following Ed Glaeser’s attempt to do a back-of-the-envelope assessment of the costs and benefits of a […]

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