Regional and national convergence to common car ownership levels.

This report examines whether car ownership in various regions and countries has shown evidence over the last twenty-five or thirty years of convergence towards a common level. The differentials between the levels of ownership in British regions, American divisions and states, European and other developed countries and the six main continental groupings of the world are compared over this period. It is found that convergence appears in all groups in varying degrees. American divisions are closest to a common level and the spread is still decreasing. British regions show greater differentials in ownership, but a gradual trend towards convergence is apparent. It is suggested that as ownership rises in all parts of the world further convergence will occur, but for most areas a common level is not imminent. (Author/publisher)