Citation

Hine JL. Proc. IRCOBI 1975; 3: 141-152.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1975, International Research Council on Biomechanics of Injury)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The general economic and social environment in which rural roads must be planned is examined, and evaluation techniques that have been applied or could be used in developing countries are considered. The limited, local incidence of transport characteristic of subsistence agriculture, roads within a planned regional agricultural development scheme, transport costs, and crop movement are discussed as well as personal mobility, non-agricultural goods movement, and the nature of the rural road production function. The user cost savings approach to transport project appraisal is described in which benefits are estimated in terms of the difference in operating costs associated with normal traffic. The user cost savings with increased agricultural output is a popular method of appraising feeder road projects. The user cost benefit with generated traffic and induced output is also described. A simple agricultural model is outlined which involves prediction of benefits and depends upon a knowledge of changes in transport rather than an ability to predict future traffic levels. The application of general equilibrium models of the economy to indicate structural change following road investment is described as well as some other approaches.