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on Transport Economics |
| By: | Jesus Gonzalez-Feliu (LET - Laboratoire d'économie des transports - CNRS : UMR5593 - Université Lumière - Lyon II - Ecole Nationale des Travaux Publics de l'Etat) |
| Abstract: | Freight transport constitutes one of the main activities that influences economy and society, as it assures a vital link between suppliers and customers and it represents a major source of employment. Multi-echelon distribution is one of the most common strategies adopted by the transport companies in an aim of cost reduction. This paper presents the main concepts of multi-echelon distribution with cross-docks through a multidisciplinary analysis that includes an optimisation study (using both exact and heuristic methods), a geographic approach (based on the concept of accessibility) and a socio-economic analysis. a conceptual framework for logistics and transport pooling systems, as well as a simulation method for strategic planning optimisation. |
| Keywords: | Freight transport systems, cross-docking, simulation, collaboration, socio-economic issues |
| Date: | 2012–04 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:halshs-00498496&r=tre |
| By: | Olaf Merk; Olli-Pekka Hilmola; Patrick Dubarle |
| Abstract: | This working paper offers an evaluation of the performance of the Port of Helsinki, as well as an analysis of the port?s impact on its territory and an assessment of relevant policies and governance. It examines declining port performance in the last decade and identifies the principal factors that have contributed to it. In addition, the report studies the potential for synergies between the Helsinki and HaminaKotka ports. The study also considers the effect of these ports on economic and environmental questions. Specifically, the paper outlines the impact of the Helsinki port?s operations, and shows how its activities spill over into other regions. The report also assesses major policies governing the port, as well as transport and economic development, the environment and spatial planning. These policies include measures instituted by the Helsinki Port Authority and local, regional and national governments. Governance mechanisms at these different levels are described and analysed. Based on the report?s findings, proposed recommendations aim to improve port performance and increase the positive effects of the port on its territory. |
| Keywords: | transportation, ports, regional development, regional growth, urban growth, inter-regional trade |
| JEL: | D57 L91 R11 R12 R15 R41 |
| Date: | 2012–09–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:oec:govaab:2012/8-en&r=tre |
| By: | Benoît Chèze; Julien Chevallier; Pascal Gastineau |
| Abstract: | This article investigates whether anticipated technological progress can be expected to be strong enough to offset carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions resulting from the rapid growth of air transport. Aviation CO2 emissions projections are provided at the worldwide level and for eight geographical zones until 2025. Total air traffic flows are first forecast using a dynamic panel-data econometric model, and then converted into corresponding quantities of air traffic CO2 emissions using specific hypotheses and energy factors. None of our nine scenarios appears compatible with the objective of 450 ppm CO2-eq. (a.k.a. "scenario of type I") recommended by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). None is either compatible with the IPCC scenario of type III, which aims at limiting global warming to 3.2°C. |
| Keywords: | Air transport; CO2 emissions; Forecasting; Climate change |
| JEL: | C53 L93 Q47 Q54 |
| Date: | 2012 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:drm:wpaper:2012-35&r=tre |
| By: | Tanner, Reto; Bolduc, Denis |
| Abstract: | In this paper, we present a model that can be viewed as an extension of the traditional Tobit model. As opposed to that specific model, ours also accounts for the the fixed costs of car ownership. That extension is needed since being carless is an option for many households in societies that have a good system of public transportation, the main reason being that carless households wish to save the fixed costs of car ownership. So far, no existing model can adequately map the impact of these fixed costs on car ownership. The Multiple Discrete-Continuous Extreme Value Model (MDCEV) with fixed costs fills this gap. In fact, this model can evaluate the effect of policies intended to influence household behaviour with respect to car ownership, which can be of great interest to policy makers. Our model makes it possible to compute the effect of policies such as taxes on fuel or on car ownership on both the share of carless households and the average driving distance. We calibrated the model using data on Swiss private households in order to forecast were then able to forecast responses to policies. One result of particular interest that cannot be produced by other models is the evaluation of the impact of a tax on car ownership. Our results show that a tax on car ownership has a much lower impact on aggregate driving demand – per unit of tax revenues – than a tax on fuel. |
| Keywords: | The Multiple Discrete-Continuous Extreme Value Model (MDCEV); fixed costs; fuel consumption; carbon dioxide; emissions |
| JEL: | C51 D12 C24 Q40 C01 |
| Date: | 2012–07–23 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:41452&r=tre |
| By: | Xiaozhou Xu (CGS - Centre de Gestion Scientifique - Mines ParisTech); Shenle Pan (CGS - Centre de Gestion Scientifique - Mines ParisTech); Eric Ballot (CGS - Centre de Gestion Scientifique - Mines ParisTech) |
| Abstract: | The sustainability of supply chain,both economical and ecological, has attracted intensive attentions of academic and industry. It is proven in former works that supply chain pooling given by horizontal cooperation among several independent supply chains create a new common supply chain network that could reduce the costs and the transport CO2 emissions. In this regard, this paper introduces a scheme to share in a fairly manner the savings. After a summary of the concept of pooled-supply-networks optimization and CO2 emission model, we use cooperative game theory as the cooperative mechanism for the implementation of the horizontal pooling. Since we proved the related pooling game to be super-additive, a fair and stable allocation of common gain in transportation cost and CO2 emission is calculated by Shapley Value concept. Through a case study, the results show that supply chains pooling can result in reductions of both transportation cost and carbon emissions, and that the increase of carbon-tax rate gives enterprises more incentives for the implementation of such pooling scheme. |
| Date: | 2012–05–23 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-00733491&r=tre |
| By: | Olaf Merk; Thai Thanh Dang |
| Abstract: | Port efficiency is an important indicator of port performance; more efficient ports lower transportation costs and facilitate imports and exports of a country. Despite the importance of the subject, the exisiting port efficiency studies have almost exclusively focused on container ports. This Working Paper aims to fill that gap by calculating efficiency scores of world ports per cargo type (containers, oil, coal, iron ore and grain). These calculcations have been made using a database constructed for this purpose. Several findings can be derived from these calculations. Significant improvements can be made when the technical efficiency of ports is increased. Among the sample, gaps between terminal efficiency mostly reflected gaps in pure technical efficiency. When comparing the level of efficiency achieved by ports across commodities, technical gaps were more marked for container and oil terminals. Promoting policies to raise throughput levels in order to minimise production scale inefficiencies is another important area for improvement. Production scale inefficiencies arise when throughput levels are below or above optimal levels given the current capacity of terminal infrastructure. Such inefficiencies were mostly found in a substantial number of ports handling crude oil and iron ore, suggesting that efficiency is more sensitive and driven by exogenous factors related to traffic flows. The analysis also shows that the size of ports matters for port efficiency. The crude oil, iron-ore and grain ports have higher efficiency scores at larger total port size, suggesting that this size is more efficient because they can drive technological development. Finally, there are regional patterns emerging across commodities. Terminals in China are among the most efficient in handling coal bulk and containers with terminals in Southeast Asia. By contrast, the most efficient grain and iron-ore terminals are located in Latin America, and the most efficient crude-oil transhipment terminals are mostly found in the Gulf region. Further, Australia is also found to perform well in handling coal bulk and grains. |
| Keywords: | transportation, ports, port efficiency |
| JEL: | L91 R11 R41 |
| Date: | 2012–09–13 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:oec:govaab:2012/9-en&r=tre |
| By: | Thoenes, Stefan (Energiewirtschaftliches Institut an der Universitaet zu Koeln); Gores, Timo (Energiewirtschaftliches Institut an der Universitaet zu Koeln) |
| Abstract: | This study examines attention effects in the market for hybrid vehicles. We show that local media coverage, gasoline price changes and unprecedented record gasoline prices have a significant causal impact on the consumers’ attention. As attention is not directly observable, we analyze online search behavior as a proxy for the revealed consumer attention. Our study is based on weekly panel data of local newspaper coverage, gasoline prices and Google search trends for 19 metropolitan areas in the US. Additionally, we use monthly state-level panel data to show that the adoption rate of the hybrid vehicle technology is robustly related to our measure of attention. |
| Keywords: | consumer behavior; attention; media; gasoline price; energy efficiency; hybrid vehicle |
| JEL: | D12 D83 L62 Q41 |
| Date: | 2012–09–20 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ris:ewikln:2012_011&r=tre |
| By: | Claudio Ferrari; Olaf Merk; Anna Bottasso; Maurizio Conti; Alessio Tei |
| Abstract: | This paper studies the impact of port activity on regional employment, analysing approximately 560 western European regions, including the largest OECD European ports (116 ports), from 2000-06. The empirical analysis is based on a set of employment equations using the Blundell and Bond (1998) GMM-System estimator that takes into account persistence effects in employment, regional unobserved time-invariant heterogeneity and endogeneity of port activity.<P> Our main findings are (1) regional employment is positively correlated to port throughput, while the number of passengers is not; (2) the impact of port throughput on employment might depend on the institutional characteristics of each port, with private ports having the largest impact on regional employment of the host region if compared with those operating under different governance models (“Hanseatic”, “Latin”); (3) there is a higher impact of port throughput when liquid bulk is not considered; and (4) the main results are confirmed when service and manufacturing employment rather than total employment are considered. |
| Keywords: | transportation, ports, regional development, regional growth |
| JEL: | H54 L91 O47 R11 R41 |
| Date: | 2012–09–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:oec:govaab:2012/7-en&r=tre |
| By: | Hellowell, Mark |
| Abstract: | Although costly for public authorities, construction projects undertaken through the private finance initiative (PFI) tend to be well-managed on the private sector side, delivering predictably high returns to investors. Against this background, and despite the desire of policy-makers to invest in infrastructure, the sector is facing a severe credit crunch. Mark Hellowell argues that, while EU-backed project-bonds may offer a solution by allowing projects to be funded by institutional investors, they may undermine the very disciplines that have led to PFI’s impressive record of delivery. |
| Date: | 2012–06–27 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ner:lselon:http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/46268/&r=tre |
| By: | Wolff, Hendrik (University of Washington) |
| Abstract: | Do drivers reduce speeds when gasoline prices are high? Previous research investigating this energy conservation hypothesis produced mixed results. We take a fresh look at the data and estimate a significant negative relationship between speeding and gasoline prices. This presents a new methodology of deriving the 'Value of Time' (VOT) based on the intensive margin (previous VOT studies compare across the extensive margin) which has important advantages to circumvent potential omitted variable problems. While our VOT is 50% of the gross wage rate, we show that previous stated preference estimates are likely downward, whereas previous revealed preference estimates are systematically upward biased. We discuss implications, as VOT today is a key parameter in economics and policy. |
| Keywords: | value of time, speeding, gasoline price |
| JEL: | D70 J17 K32 Q26 R41 |
| Date: | 2012–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp6788&r=tre |
| By: | Stefan Boes;; Stephan Nuesch;; Steve Stillman; |
| Abstract: | We explore two unexpected changes in flight regulations to identify the causal effect of aircraft noise on health. Detailed yearly noise metrics are linked with panel data on health outcomes using exact address information. Controlling for individual and spatial heterogeneity, we find that aircraft noise significantly increases sleeping problems, weariness and headaches. Our pooled models substantially underestimate the detrimental health effects, which suggests that individuals self-select into residence based on their unobserved noise sensitivity and idiosyncratic vulnerability. Generally, we show that the combination of fixed effects and quasi-experiments is very powerful to identify causal effects in epidemiological field studies. |
| Keywords: | Health, noise pollution, selection bias, fixed effects, quasi-experimental data. |
| JEL: | I10 Q53 C23 |
| Date: | 2012–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:yor:hectdg:12/21&r=tre |
| By: | Knieps, Günter |
| Abstract: | The reform of European railroads is a time-consuming process strongly charac-terized by its path-dependency. Firstly, a short outline of the historical roots of the controversial debates on the role of the state and the markets, and the organi-zation of competition in European railroad industries is provided. Secondly, the opening of the market for train services in the context of the liberalization of European transport markets since 1985 is characterized and the regulatory pre-conditions for competition on the tracks are presented. Thirdly, the evolution of track access regulation in Europe during the last decades is analyzed, differenti-ating between the period of negotiated third party access since 1991, the intro-duction of ex ante regulation by the first railroad infrastructure package in 2001, and the danger of overregulation posed by the recent Draft Directive of July 2012 establishing a single European railway area. Fourthly, the role of competi-tion on the markets for rail services and the reform process of interoperability requirements are considered. Finally, competition on the markets for rail ser-vices and public subsidies for rail infrastructures as well as subsidies for train services are evaluated. -- |
| Date: | 2012 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:aluivr:142&r=tre |
| By: | Blumenberg, Evelyn; Taylor, Brian; Smart, Michael; Ralph, Kelcie; Wander, Madeline; Brumbagh, Stephen |
| Abstract: | Today’s teens are members of the first generation to have never known a world without instantaneous and nearly ubiquitous mobile phone access. They also must surmount greater hurdles to driver’s licensing than any previous generation faced. And they are struggling to transition into the most unwelcoming job market since the Great Depression. These tectonic happenings surely augur equally dramatic changes in the travel choices and patterns of young adults in the years ahead. Or will they? This report examines this question. While scholars have studied the travel choices and patterns of adults extensively over the years, our knowledge of youth travel behavior is surprisingly limited and uneven. There is a growing body of research on how children travel to school and a second body of research on youth and travel safety, in particular, the high rates of crashes and driving fatalities among teenagers. Beyond these two rather focused lines of inquiry, however, studies of travel by children, teens, and young adults are rare. Researchers have posited several factors to explain differences in the travel behavior of youth and adults, and to support the argument that such differences may persist as today’s youth move into adulthood. First, the rapid profusion and adoption of new communication technologies influences how people use their time and may affect how much they travel (Kwan, 2002), and young people tend to be early and frequent adopters of these technologies (Mans et al., forthcoming; Lenhart et al., 2005; Pew Research Center, 2010b). Second, all 50 states have now adopted graduated driver’s licensing programs, making teen licensing more difficult and restrictive (with respect to time, trip purpose, and passengers) than in previous eras (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 2012). Third, unemployment rates during the current recession are highest for youth, thereby reducing journey-to-work and work-related travel and limiting the resources teens and young adults have to pay for non-work activities (and associated travel) of all types. This prolonged economic downturn may also influence youth travel patterns indirectly; fragmentary evidence suggests that young adults struggling to find work increasingly “boomerang†back home to live with parents (Kaplan, 2009; Pew Research Center, 2010b; Wiemers, 2011), drawn by a free or steeply discounted bedroom, groceries, and, perhaps, access to parents’ cars. |
| Keywords: | City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning |
| Date: | 2012–09–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cdl:uctcwp:qt9c14p6d5&r=tre |
| By: | Nicholas Rivers (Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, University of Ottawa, 120 University St., Ottawa,Ontario); Brandon Schaufele (Department of Economics, University of Ottawa, 120 University St., Ottawa,Ontario) |
| Abstract: | We demonstrate that the carbon tax imposed by the Canadian province of British Columbia, a unique carbon pricing policy that comprehensively applies to all fossil fuels, caused a decline in short-run gasoline demand that is significantly greater than would be expected from an equivalent increase in the market price of gasoline. That the carbon tax is more salient, or yields a larger change in demand than equivalent market price movements, is robust to a range of specifications including intuitively plausible and strong instrumental variables. Along with calculating the reduction in carbon dioxide emissions attributable to the tax, we discuss potential explanations for the differential consumer responses to the carbon tax relative to the marketdetermined price. |
| Keywords: | Carbon tax, tax salience, instrumental variables, environmental pricing, gasoline demand. |
| JEL: | C26 H23 H29 Q41 Q58 |
| Date: | 2012 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ott:wpaper:1211e&r=tre |
| By: | M. Beatrice Lignola (Università di Napoli Federico II); Jacqueline Morgan (Università di Napoli Federico II and CSEF) |
| Abstract: | We consider a two-stage model where a leader, according to its risk-averse proneness, solves a MinSup problem with constraints corresponding to the reaction sets of a follower and defined by the solutions of a quasi-variational inequality (i.e. a variational inequality having constraint sets depending on its own solutions) which appear in concrete economic models such as social and economic networks, financial derivative models, transportation network congestion and traffic equilibrium. In general the infimal value of a MinSup (or the maximal value of a MaxInf) problem with quasi-variational inequality constraints is not stable under perturbations in the sense that the sequence of optimal values for the perturbed problems may not converge to the optimal value of the original problem even in presence of nice data. Thus, we introduce different types of approximate values for this problem, we investigate their asymptotical behavior under perturbations and we emphasized the results concerning MinSup problems with variational inequality constraints as well results holding under strict assumptions and that can be easily employed in applications. |
| Date: | 2012–09–14 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sef:csefwp:321&r=tre |