Welfare impacts of car costs on the daily activities of families with children

In Norway, car ownership and travelling by car have increased for families with children from 1992 to 2005. The majority of parents’ travelling is done by car, and the same is true of children’s leisure activities. Parents feel that children should participate in organized leisure activities, also seen as a sign of the family’s success. Access to the car means few restrictions on children’s choice of leisure activities. Few parents have detailed knowledge about the car costs. In the discussion about the effects of increased car costs, few said they would dispose of the car. They would rather: change to a smaller or cheaper car, do fewer and shorter trips, reduce other type of consumption, but they would not let the children pay the price.