Introduction to Transport Economics
• Most individuals have a basic need to travel from
one location to another.
• Modern life- structured around accessing goods
and services that lie outside of the immediate
vicinity of the home.
• Transport services required
– to gain access to employment, education, leisure
activities, personal care/health services as well as
access to retail outlets for household goods such as
food, clothing, electrical goods, books, CDs and so on.
,• The development of the world wide web,
– has not, as yet, succeeded in turning the majority of
individuals into computer geeks that need to get out
more!
– Transport therefore still has a key role to play in
modern society.
• This importance is further reflected in the link
between transport levels and economic growth.
• In the past this link has been very strong, as both
passenger and freight transport play a vital role in
the function of the economy, with strong growth
normally associated with innovative transport
solutions.
, Transport issues that economics can
shed light on
• congestion and the role of road pricing,
• the impact of traffic on the environment,
• the organisation of public transport services,
• the rise of low-cost airlines,
• the capacity of the rail network, or indeed
‘problems on the railways’ and so on,
• Most individuals have a basic need to travel from
one location to another.
• Modern life- structured around accessing goods
and services that lie outside of the immediate
vicinity of the home.
• Transport services required
– to gain access to employment, education, leisure
activities, personal care/health services as well as
access to retail outlets for household goods such as
food, clothing, electrical goods, books, CDs and so on.
,• The development of the world wide web,
– has not, as yet, succeeded in turning the majority of
individuals into computer geeks that need to get out
more!
– Transport therefore still has a key role to play in
modern society.
• This importance is further reflected in the link
between transport levels and economic growth.
• In the past this link has been very strong, as both
passenger and freight transport play a vital role in
the function of the economy, with strong growth
normally associated with innovative transport
solutions.
, Transport issues that economics can
shed light on
• congestion and the role of road pricing,
• the impact of traffic on the environment,
• the organisation of public transport services,
• the rise of low-cost airlines,
• the capacity of the rail network, or indeed
‘problems on the railways’ and so on,
