Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996
Objectives On completion of this subject students should have developed an advanced level of understanding of transport economics, the spatial structure of economic activity, and the interrelationships between markets for transport services and the location of firms, households and other organisations in inter-regional and intra-urban contexts; be familiar with the key theoretical and empirical literature in the area and appreciate the major frontier research issues; be able to bring to bear existing theory and empirical findings in the area to address specific theoretical and applied problems, including critical evaluation of policy issues.
Synopsis Topics include demand and cost models for various transport services (eg international air travel and intercity freight), pricing of transport services (eg road user charges, air fares and urban public transport) involving such issues as price discrimination, contestability, economies of scale and scope, joint costs, peak and off-peak demand, second best, congestion and public goods, investment evaluation; assessment of government involvement in the transport sector (including economic regulation), deregulation and ownership (eg privatisation vs direct provision of rail, airports, roads, ports and public transport).
Assessment Written (4000-word essay): 35% + Examination (3 hours): 65%