Paying Drivers To Not Drive Congestion Pricing Inspired by Ethereum's Blockspace

The author proposes a congestion pricing model inspired by Ethereum's EIP 1559 that pays drivers to stay off the road rather than only charging them to drive. Under the scheme, drivers allowed to drive for free on a given day would be offered a reward for staying away, funded by fees paid by drivers who want to drive without a free pass. The fee would combine a base fee set by road demand with a stay-away price set by a daily Dutch auction that descends until enough bids cover the drivers allowed to drive free. The article presents this as directional rather than perfect and lists open questions, including collusion risk and how to define who is eligible for payment.