nep-tre New Economics Papers
on Transport Economics
Issue of 2020‒08‒24
fifteen papers chosen by
Erik Teodoor Verhoef
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

  1. Optimal Location-dependent Pricing Policies on Railways and Roads in a Continuous City By Joto, Keigo; Konagane, Joji; Kono, Tatsuhito; Kuwahara, Masao
  2. Road Transport Energy Consumption and Vehicular Emissions in Lagos, Nigeria By Monica Maduekwe; Uduak Akpan; Salisu Isihak
  3. City Planner Survey Reveals the Most Common Tools for Promoting Transit-Oriented Development By Barbour, Elisaa; Grover, Salvador; Lamoureaux, Yulia; Chaudhary, Gyanendra; Handy, Susan
  4. A Self-Organizing Policy for Vehicle Dispatching in Public Transit Systems with Multiple Lines By van Lieshout, R.N.; Bouman, P.C.; van den Akker, M.; Huisman, D.
  5. Designing Robo-Taxis to Promote Ride-Pooling By Sanguinetti, Angela; Ferguson, Beth; Oka, Jamie; Alston-Stepnitz, Eli; Kurani, Kenneth
  6. The Effect of COVID-19 Lockdown on Mobility and Traffic Accidents: Evidence from Louisiana By Barnes, Stephen R.; Beland, Louis-Philippe; Huh, Jason; Kim, Dongwoo
  7. Fiscal Vulnerability and Transport Infrastructure Development in Nigeria By Isiaq O. Oseni; Ibrahim A. Adekunle; Ayomide O. Ogunade
  8. Decarbonising Argentina’s Transport System: Charting the Way Forward By ITF
  9. Electrifying Postal Delivery Vehicles in Korea By ITF
  10. Mobility Practices, Value of Time and Transport Appraisal By David Meunier
  11. Public-Private Partnership Systems and Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific By Rui Almeida; Amaury Cassang; Daniel Lin; Masato Abe
  12. Estimation of the scale of export barriers concentrated on different parts of the EAEU border By Kuznetsov, Dmitriy (Кузнецов, Дмитрий)
  13. The Influence of the Market Potential of Industrial Agglomeration in Kyushu on Corporate Activities and Port Utilization Panel Data Analysis during the Inbound Rise Period (Japanese) By KAMEYAMA Yoshihiro
  14. Infrastructure financing for sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific: A new ESCAP publication on financing for Development By Tientip Subhanij; Masato Abe; Alberto Isgut; Nick Freeman
  15. Appendix to “Cost pass-through in Commercial Aviation: Theory and Evidence” – Theoretical Derivations By Gayle, Philip; Lin, Ying

  1. By: Joto, Keigo; Konagane, Joji; Kono, Tatsuhito; Kuwahara, Masao
    Abstract: This paper explores optimal location-dependent but time-invariant peak-load charges on a road and a train in a continuous closed city with bottleneck road congestion and rail overcrowding. In our model, rail and car commuters both choose their departure times, considering their schedule delay costs and dynamically changing transportation costs, and their residential locations. Our theoretical results show that when the bottleneck is located at the fringe of the CBD area (Situation 1), the optimal uniform toll and fares are determined by the difference in price distortions between the train and cars. When the bottleneck on the road is located some distance from the CBD (Situation 2), the optimal uniform toll and fares are represented by price distortions of the cars and train, respectively. Our quantitative results show that, in Situation 1, our toll and fares can achieve 25% of the first-best welfare gains, whereas, in Situation 2, our toll and fares can achieve approximately 30% of the first-best welfare gains.
    Keywords: Bottleneck road congestion, Congestion toll, Railway fare, Rail overcrowding
    JEL: H21 H23 R48
    Date: 2020–05–17
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:100446&r=all
  2. By: Monica Maduekwe (Praia, Cabo Verde); Uduak Akpan (SPIDER) Solutions Nigeria, Uyo, Nigeria); Salisu Isihak (Rural Electrification Agency, Abuja, Nigeria)
    Abstract: The “Avoid†, “Shift†and “Improve†(A-S-I) approach is an effective method for transforming an unsustainable transport system to a sustainable one. This study intends to examine the possible impact of the A-S-I policy measures in transforming the transportation system in Lagos - the most populous city and the commercial capital of Nigeria. The study employs the Long Range Energy Alternative Planning (LEAP) model to project future energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions to determine the most effective A-S-I option for the city. We construct a business-as-usual scenario for Lagos as well as sustainable road transport alternative policy scenarios. The results show that Lagos’ biggest obstacle to achieving its emission reduction target is the presence of very old vehicles on its roads. Our analysis shows that emission reduction in the road transport sector in Lagos is sensitive to vehicle survivability rate (i.e. the fraction of vehicles of a certain age still driven). We conclude that unless the age limit of vehicles in Lagos reduces from 40 years to 22 years, vehicle growth rate from 5% to 2% and mileage by 2% per year from 2020- 2032, Lagos may not achieve the target 50% emission reduction by 2032.
    Keywords: Road transport, energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, LEAP, Lagos, Nigeria
    Date: 2020–01
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:exs:wpaper:20/055&r=all
  3. By: Barbour, Elisaa; Grover, Salvador; Lamoureaux, Yulia; Chaudhary, Gyanendra; Handy, Susan
    Abstract: Transit-oriented development—higher density residential or mixed-use development centered around high-quality transit stations—can reduce the need for driving and cut vehicle greenhouse gas emissions. It can also play a role in revitalizing downtowns, improving accessibility for residents, and preserving open space. For these reasons, state and local governments in California have adopted goals and policies to support transit-oriented development. Despite its benefits, transit-oriented development faces multiple barriers. Projects may face more complex planning, financing, and regulatory hurdles, and often entail higher land and development costs compared to greenfield development. Local governments are confronting these challenges through the adoption of innovative policy, planning, and finance tools. Researchers at the University of California, Davis surveyed almost 150 city planning directors in California’s four largest metropolitan areas to better understand cities’ motivations for supporting transit-oriented development, the challenges encountered, and techniques employed in achieving their transit-oriented development goals. The results presented in this policy brief are from the first part of a two-year study. View the NCST Project Webpage
    Keywords: Social and Behavioral Sciences, Financing, Nonmotorized transportation, Policy analysis, Transit oriented development, Transportation planning, Transportation policy, Travel behavior
    Date: 2020–08–01
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cdl:itsdav:qt7jc671t3&r=all
  4. By: van Lieshout, R.N.; Bouman, P.C.; van den Akker, M.; Huisman, D.
    Abstract: In this paper, we propose and analyze an online, decentralized policy for dispatching vehicles in a multiline public transit system. In the policy, vehicles arriving at a terminal station are assigned to the lines starting at the station in a round-robin fashion. Departure times are selected to minimize deviations from a certain target headway. We prove that this policy is self-organizing: given that there is a sufficient number of available vehicles, a timetable spontaneously emerges that meets the target headway of every line. Moreover, in case one of the vehicles breaks down, the remaining vehicles automatically redistribute over the network to re-establish such a timetable. We present both theoretical and numerical results on the time until a stable state is reached and on how quickly the system recovers after the breakdown of a vehicle. These promising results suggest that our self-organizing policy could be useful in situations where centralized dispatching is impractical or simply impossible due to an abundance of disruptions or the absence of information systems.
    Date: 2020–06–01
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ems:eureir:129315&r=all
  5. By: Sanguinetti, Angela; Ferguson, Beth; Oka, Jamie; Alston-Stepnitz, Eli; Kurani, Kenneth
    Abstract: Robo-taxis (automated vehicles operating in a ride-hailing model) have the potential to improve mobility while reducing traffic, emissions, and energy use. However, such outcomes depend largely on increasing riders per vehicle. Public policy that incentivizes industry to design robo-taxis to support ride-pooling may be critical to achieving positive outcomes. This research reviews current shared automated vehicle designs and literature related to potential consumer risks and benefits of ride-pooling in robo-taxis in order to articulate potential design solutions to promote pooling.
    Keywords: Social and Behavioral Sciences, Automated vehicles, Ride-sharing, Ride-pooling, Design
    Date: 2020–08–01
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cdl:itsdav:qt65s3m92w&r=all
  6. By: Barnes, Stephen R.; Beland, Louis-Philippe; Huh, Jason; Kim, Dongwoo
    Abstract: We use a regression discontinuity design to study the effect of the COVID-19 lockdown on mobility and traffic accidents. Based on data from Google Community Mobility reports and Uniform Traffic Crash Report from the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Develop- ment (LaDOTD), we find that the stay-at-home order led to a large decrease in traffic accidents (-47 percent). In particular, we find a large decrease in accidents involving injury (-46 percent), distracted drivers (-43 percent), and ambulances (-41 percent). We also find evidence of a change in the composition of accidents, with more incidents involving individuals aged 25 to 64, male, and nonwhite drivers. Interestingly, we find no impact on ambulance response time, despite lower traffic. Finally, we document a large decrease in mobility in Louisiana. Our results have important policy implications for traffic management policies.
    Keywords: COVID-19,Lockdown,Accidents,Traffic Management,Regression Discontinuity
    JEL: R20 R41 R42 R48 H41 D62
    Date: 2020
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:glodps:616&r=all
  7. By: Isiaq O. Oseni (Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun State, Nigeria); Ibrahim A. Adekunle (Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun State, Nigeria); Ayomide O. Ogunade (Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun State, Nigeria)
    Abstract: In spite of the massive revenue emanating from oil wealth, the successive government of Nigeria failed to give to its citizenry the dividend of democracy owing in large part to their inability to establish a market clearing situation because of inadequate linkage between the sources and the markets (transport infrastructures). An enquiry into the cause and potential solutions to the problems of transport infrastructure development in Nigeria informed the need to regress indices of fiscal vulnerability on the indicator of transport infrastructure development in Nigeria from 1986 through 2017 using the dynamic ordinary least squares regression technique. Results show that high-levelfiscal vulnerability deters optimal government expenditure on transport infrastructure development in Nigeria. Based on the findings of the study, itis recommended that government should do more to block all leakages of fiscal revenues and subsequently ensure that more allocation is channelled into transporting infrastructure development because of its forward and backward linkages.
    Keywords: Fiscal Vulnerability; Transport Infrastructure Development; Nigeria
    JEL: H5 E44 H12 R4
    Date: 2020–01
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:exs:wpaper:20/051&r=all
  8. By: ITF
    Abstract: This paper reviews opportunities for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions from Argentina’s transport sector. It also identifies the main challenges for that objective, specifically in freight transport. Actions taken at different levels of government are assessed and the impact of policies focused on other priorities - such as lowering logistic costs - is discussed. The paper also highlights what data on transport emissions are available for Argentina and which tools government agencies use for examining them.
    Date: 2020–05–05
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:oec:itfaac:75-en&r=all
  9. By: ITF
    Abstract: This report evaluates the costs and benefits of replacing postal delivery motorcycles with electric vehicles in eight Korean cities. It compares operating costs, safety performance, and environmental impacts based on data collected from a field trial with both vehicle types. In addition to the economic analysis, qualitative aspects are also discussed based on the findings of a focus group study. The results from the pilot programme provide an evidence base for policy initiatives in the delivery sector in Korea and beyond.
    Date: 2020–08–19
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:oec:itfaac:73-en&r=all
  10. By: David Meunier
    Abstract: This paper discusses whether changes in mobility practices affect value of travel time savings. It considers the relationship between the theory of the value of time and its practical application in traffic models and cost-benefit analysis. The discussion covers the need to distinguish variations in utility due to changes in the quantity and quality of time spent in travelling, the relationships between changes in value of time and mobility practices and between collective and individual values of time.
    Date: 2020–01–31
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:oec:itfaab:2020/01-en&r=all
  11. By: Rui Almeida (Consultants at the Macroeconomic Policy and Financing for Development Division, UNESCAP); Amaury Cassang (Consultants at the Macroeconomic Policy and Financing for Development Division, UNESCAP); Daniel Lin (Consultants at the Macroeconomic Policy and Financing for Development Division, UNESCAP); Masato Abe (Macroeconomic Policy and Financing for Development Division, UNESCAP)
    Abstract: Engaging the private sector in infrastructure financing through public-private partnership (PPP) can contribute significantly to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. However, PPP has yet to realize its potential fully in several Asia-Pacific economies. To promote this blended financing modality, a more conducive environment for PPP need to be ensured by establishing an efficient eco-system in a country. This may include, among others, policy and legal frameworks, institutional arrangements and financial support mechanisms for PPP implementation. This paper examines the findings of a survey conducted among 20 member States of the Infrastructure Financing and Public-Private Partnership Network of Asia and the Pacific and discusses the common strategies and practices adopted by developing countries in Asia and the Pacific regarding PPP systems. The paper also highlights the role of an effective PPP system in the pursuit of Sustainable Development Goals.
    Keywords: Asia and the Pacific; Infrastructure financing, Public-private partnerships; Sustainable Development Goals
    JEL: G18 G38 F55 H54
    Date: 2020–06
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:unt:wpmpdd:wp/20/07&r=all
  12. By: Kuznetsov, Dmitriy (Кузнецов, Дмитрий) (The Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration)
    Abstract: The basis of the data used is the detailed data of the customs statistics of Russia. An empirical model for assessing the level of barriers to export at the customs border of the Russian Federation can be obtained on the basis of the simplest theoretical model of route selection by an international freight carrier. The study showed that time costs affect the flow of trade not only through an increase in transport costs, but also directly, reducing the value of the transaction for the seller and / or buyer. The magnitude of these effects is comparable, but for consumer goods, a relatively greater contribution of the direct component can be noted. In turn, this indicates that, generally speaking, the contribution of the time component to trade costs between the two countries depends, inter alia, on the structure of trade.
    Date: 2020–04
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:rnp:wpaper:042028&r=all
  13. By: KAMEYAMA Yoshihiro
    Abstract: Since 2003, the number of foreign tourists visiting Japan using cruise ships and low-cost carriers (LCCs) has been increasing due to the promotion of inbound tourism In particular, the number of international cruise ships calling from East Asia was increasing at major ports in Kyushu until 2019. With the exception of Hakata and Nagasaki Port, most of the ports visited by cruise ships have been re-purposed from containers or bulk ports to accommodate cruise ships. And charter buses have been used to connect sightseeing spots and central areas from those ports of call. These ports were originally opened for import and export for the manufacturing industry. It can be assumed that these ports were related to the trend of locating industrial clusters in Kyushu. As the leading industry shifts from manufacturing to tourism, the formation of industrial clusters, which has also been implemented since the early 2000s, has led to the promotion of innovation and the strengthening of agglomeration. However, is not the formation of industrial clusters contributing to port utilization? Based on this research question, this paper focuses on ports that cruise ships visit more frequently and the manufacturing industries located in the hinterland in the Kyushu region. First, we measured the market potential (MP) based on the transportation costs of manufacturing between prefectures. Second, we investigated how MP affects corporate productivity and wages. Third, we investigated how MP and port systems affected logistics. Estimation results show that MP contributes to productivity and wages in the manufacturing industry, and that MP and the scale of investment of port facilities contribute to logistics.
    Date: 2020–04
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:eti:rdpsjp:20027&r=all
  14. By: Tientip Subhanij (Macroeconomic Policy and Financing for Development Division, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific); Masato Abe (Macroeconomic Policy and Financing for Development Division, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific); Alberto Isgut (Macroeconomic Policy and Financing for Development Division, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific); Nick Freeman (Consultant of the Macroeconomic Policy and Financing for Development Division, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific)
    Abstract: Sustainable infrastructure development through proper and adequate financing is one of the most significant elements impacting the achieving of the Sustainable Development Goals, or SDGs. in Asia and the Pacific. However, significant challenges and risks around the financing of infrastructure projects – many of which are large, complex and sometimes span sovereign borders – often mean that hesitations and bottlenecks occur. Taking stock of the infrastructure financing landscape in the region, this policy brief advocates a strategic shift in mindset to a more efficient and effective use of resources for infrastructure development, focusing on leveraging additional funds from both public and private sectors, through adopting a more holistic approach to infrastructure financing.
    Date: 2020–01
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:unt:pbmpdd:pb103&r=all
  15. By: Gayle, Philip; Lin, Ying
    Abstract: This appendix serves as a supplement to “Cost Pass-through in Commercial Aviation: Theory and Evidence.” In this appendix we present the computational details of the theoretical model as well as the model predictions described in the text of the above-mentioned paper. Using a model of air travel demand and supply for an origin-destination market, we derive the closed-form expression for Nash equilibrium airfares, and use the closed-form expression to perform a series of comparative statics exercises. In particular, crucial expressions for obtaining predictions in Table 1 and Table 2 in the paper (Gayle and Lin, 2020) are provided.
    Keywords: Crude oil-Airfare Cost Pass-through; Jet fuel hedging
    JEL: L13 L93
    Date: 2020
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:101973&r=all

This nep-tre issue is ©2020 by Erik Teodoor Verhoef. It is provided as is without any express or implied warranty. It may be freely redistributed in whole or in part for any purpose. If distributed in part, please include this notice.
General information on the NEP project can be found at http://nep.repec.org. For comments please write to the director of NEP, Marco Novarese at <director@nep.repec.org>. Put “NEP” in the subject, otherwise your mail may be rejected.
NEP’s infrastructure is sponsored by the School of Economics and Finance of Massey University in New Zealand.