Episode 125: David Phillips on the effects of free public transit

Episode 125: David Phillips on the effects of free public transit

From Probable Causation by Jennifer Doleac

May 5, 2026 · 56 min · Episode 169

About this episode

David Phillips discusses the impacts of free public transit on economic and social disparities.

David Phillips talks about the effects of providing free public transit. "Eliminating Fares to Expand Opportunities: Experimental Evidence on the Impacts of Free Public Transportation on Economic and Social Disparities" by Rebecca Brough, Matthew Freedman, and David C. Phillips. OTHER RESEARCH WE DISCUSS IN THIS EPISODE: “Getting to Work: Experimental Evidence on Job Search and Transportation Costs" by David C. Phillips. “Public Transit and the Spatial Distribution of Minority Employment: Evidence from a Natural Experiment" by Harry Holzer, John Quigley, and Steven Raphael. “The Effects of the Announcement and Opening of Light Rail Transit Stations on Neighborhood Crime" by Stephen Billings, Suzanne Leland, and David Swindell. "Means-Tested Public Transportation Subsidies: Causal Evidence and Implications" by Seoyoon Ahn, Matthew Freedman, David Phillips, and Atheendar Venkataramani. “The Role of the Fare in Welfare: Public Transportation Subsidies and Their Effects on Low-Income Households" by Seth Chizeck and Oluchi Mbonu. “Do Free and Discounted Fares Increase Transit Use, Well-being, and Employment for Low-Income Residents? Evidence from a Pilot Program in Washington, DC" by…

People in this episode

Host: Jennifer Doleac

Guest: David Phillips

Topics covered

  • public transit
  • economic disparities
  • social disparities
  • transportation costs
  • employment
  • crime
  • low-income households

Keywords

  • free public transit
  • economic disparities
  • social disparities
  • transportation research
  • employment
  • neighborhood crime
  • low-income households

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Eliminating Fares to Expand Opportunities: Experimental Evidence on the Impacts of Free Public Transportation on Economic and Social Disparities, Getting to Work: Experimental Evidence on Job Search and Transportation Costs, Public Transit and the Spatial Distribution of Minority Employment: Evidence from a Natural Experiment, The Effects of the Announcement and Opening of Light Rail Transit Stations on Neighborhood Crime, Means-Tested Public Transportation Subsidies: Causal Evidence and Implications, The Role of the Fare in Welfare: Public Transportation Subsidies and Their Effects on Low-Income Households, Do Free and Discounted Fares Increase Transit Use, Well-being, and Employment for Low-Income Residents? Evidence from a Pilot Program in Washington, DC

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