|
on Transport Economics |
| By: | Kurt Sant |
| Abstract: | In recent years, global air connectivity experienced an expansion unrivalled by any other form of transport, with considerable technological advancements making air travel increasingly efficient. Such connectivity improvements were also observed in Malta, with the country’s inherent geographical characteristics giving air travel a major advantage. Air connectivity is especially important to support the country’s economic sectors through various channels, especially those which are intrinsically directly dependent on air travel, such as the tourism and aircraft maintenance industries. This paper describes developments in Malta’s air connectivity since EU membership through the integration of various data sources such as Malta International Airport statistics and airline schedules, amongst others. This analysis shows significant route development from the Maltese Islands between 2005 and 2019, heavily influenced by the introduction and increased operations of low-cost carriers. In fact, when analysing the airlines propelling such connectivity developments, a clear shift from network carriers to low-cost carriers have characterised recent years. The passenger flow analysis, however, shows that links to important hubs and large airports, often exclusively served by network carriers, remain central connections to Malta. In fact, although direct long-haul flights are lacking, almost every country across all continents is just two flights away through secondary connections, highlighting the importance of connectivity to these large hubs. While COVID-19 has wiped out a significant number of direct connections from Malta, including connections to important hubs, restoring such connections or establishing alternative ones, will be crucial for the economy to benefit from the eventual global recovery in a post-pandemic environment. |
| JEL: | Z3 Z30 Z32 Z38 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:mlt:ppaper:0320&r=all |
| By: | Geir H. M. Bjertnæs (Statistics Norway) |
| Abstract: | A tax on fuel combined with tax exemptions or subsidies for fuel-efficient vehicles is implemented in many countries to fulfill the Paris agreement and to curb mileage-related externalities from road traffic. The present study shows that a tax on fuel should be combined with heavier taxation of lowand zero emission vehicles to curb mileage-related externalities and to fulfill emission targets within the transport sector. The emission target is fulfilled by adjusting the CO2-tax component on fuel. The road user charge on fuel is designed to curb mileage-related externalities. The heavier tax on lowand zero emission vehicles prevent motorists from avoiding the road user charge on fuel by purchasing low- and zero emission vehicles. |
| Keywords: | Transportation; optimal taxation; environmental taxation; global warming |
| JEL: | H2 H21 H23 Q58 R48 |
| Date: | 2021–03 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ssb:dispap:949&r=all |
| By: | Jaller, Miguel; Pahwa, Anmol |
| Abstract: | In the last decade, e-commerce has grown substantially and transformed individual shopping behaviors. Most shopping activities—at least part of the search, if not the purchase itself—now involve an online component. This has consequently changed commodity flow and urban goods distribution. E-commerce has the potential to reduce the negative impacts of shopping on the environment by substituting individual shopping trips to stores using personal cars with optimized truck deliveries. However, shopping behavior is often more complex than this one-to-one substitution. Additionally, e-retailers entice consumers with free shipping, free returns, same-day, one-hour or two-hour expedited deliveries, and more in a quest for increased market share. These enhanced services result in additional distances driven, emissions, and operational costs for the e-retailer. The increasing customer expectations around lead time, delivery time, and return policy present a need for more sustainable delivery options, particularly for the “last mile” between the distribution center and the customer. Last-mile operators are considering alternatives to traditional diesel truck-based, door-to-door delivery such as use of alternative fuel (e.g., electric) vehicles, delivery from micro-hubs using cargo bikes, customer pickup at collection points, and crowdsourced deliveries. Researchers at the University of California, Davis developed models for e-commerce demand, last-mile delivery operations, and cost and sustainability assessment, then applied this modeling framework to a case study in Southern California to evaluate the potential impact of these strategies under different delivery scenarios. This policy brief summarizes findings from that research, along with policy implications. View the NCST Project Webpage |
| Keywords: | Business, Engineering, Alternate fuels, Approximation (Mathematics), Delivery service, Delivery vehicles, Electronic commerce, Logistics, Mathematical models, Residential areas, Urban goods movement, Urban transportation |
| Date: | 2021–04–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cdl:itsdav:qt83m7s3kg&r=all |
| By: | Branko Bubalo |
| Abstract: | The purpose of this dissertation is to present an overview of the operational and financial performance of airports in Europe. In benchmarking studies, airports are assessed and compared with other airports based on key indicators from a technical and an economic point of view. The interest lies primarily in the question, which key figures can best measure the perception of quality of service from the point of view of the passenger for the services at an airport. |
| Date: | 2021–02 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:2102.02379&r=all |
| By: | Anderson, Michael L; Lu, Fangwen; Yang, Jun |
| Abstract: | Objective To determine the implications of car ownership for physical activity and weight in a global city. Design Quasi-experimental cross sectional study. Setting Beijing, China, 2011-15. Participants People aged 18 and older from a random sample of households who had entered a permit lottery to purchase a vehicle between January 2011 and November 2015. Interventions Permit allowing purchase of a vehicle within six months of permit issuance. Main outcome measures Transit use (number of subway and bus rides each week), physical activity (minutes of walking or bicycling each day), and weight, measured once in early 2016. Results Of 937 people analysed in total, 180 had won a permit to purchase a new vehicle. Winning the permit lottery resulted in the purchase of an additional vehicle 91% of the time (95% confidence interval 89% to 94%; P<0.001). About five years after winning, winners took significantly fewer weekly transit rides (-2.9 rides (-5.1 to -0.7); P=0.01) and walked and cycled significantly less (-24.2 minutes (-40.3 to -8.1); P=0.003) than those who did not win the lottery. Average weight did not change significantly between lottery winners and losers. Among those aged 50 and older, however, winners' weight had increased relative to that of losers (10.3 kg (0.5 to 20.2); P=0.04) 5.1 years after winning. Conclusions These data indicate that vehicle ownership in a rapidly growing global city led to long term reductions in physical activity and increase in weight. Continuing increases in car use and ownership in developing and middle income countries could adversely affect physical health and obesity rates. |
| Keywords: | Humans, Body Weight, Exercise, Cross-Sectional Studies, Ownership, Automobiles, Adult, Female, Male, Non-Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Beijing, General & Internal Medicine, Public Health and Health Services, Clinical Sciences |
| Date: | 2019–12–18 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cdl:agrebk:qt389921bz&r=all |