Citation

Tveter E. Case Stud. Transp. Policy 2020; 8(4): 1401-1411.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, World Conference on Transport Research Society, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.cstp.2020.10.005

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Ex-ante calculations of the wider economic impacts of transport improvements vary substantially. Some appraisals calculate wider economic impacts that are several times higher than the standard road-user benefits, while others report small additional benefits. This paper reviews 55 ex-ante calculations of agglomeration benefits, using effective density models, which are the most significant of the wider impacts. The comparison shows that the model specifications can explain most of the differences, and all the high values calculations with either inconsistent choices of parameters or a non-standard distance decay with weak support from the academic literature. Little variation seems to be explained by project characteristics, such as transport modes or whether the project improves the urban network or interregional links.

Language: en

Keywords

Agglomeration benefits; Effective density; Wider economic impacts