Vickerman, Roger W. (2017) Can high-speed rail have a transformative effect on the economy? Transport Policy, 62 . pp. 31-37. ISSN 0967-070X. E-ISSN 1879-310X. (doi:10.1016/j.tranpol.2017.03.008) (KAR id:61272)
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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tranpol.2017.03.008 |
Abstract
High-speed rail is frequently claimed to have a transformative effect on the economy. By
bringing cities and regions closer together it is argued that economies can benefit from
lower generalised costs of transport leading to enhanced growth and productivity. A
counter argument is that such effects are largely redistributive with some regions benefiting
and others suffering depending on their ability to take advantage of new opportunities.
However, some argue further than this and claim that such step changes in transport
provision can lead to major changes in economic structure that can transform regions’
absolute as well as relative position and thus redress the existence of regional disparities.
In this paper, we address the question as to whether there is a clear and robust economic
theory of the transformational impact of high-speed rail and if there is any consistent
evidence to support it? The paper uses evidence from the North-west European High-Speed
Rail network and a more detailed study of the UK’s first high-speed line, HS1. This is
followed by a discussion of the various claims and counter-claims for the impact of the
proposed HS2 that will link London with Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester. On the basis of
this some of the implications for the appraisal of such projects are considered. The main
conclusion from the paper is that transport infrastructure by itself is not likely to be
transformative, but coupled with other policy interventions it can contribute to such an
effect.
Item Type: | Article |
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DOI/Identification number: | 10.1016/j.tranpol.2017.03.008 |
Uncontrolled keywords: | High-speed rail; economic appraisal; wider economic imapcts; economic transformation; regional development |
Subjects: | H Social Sciences > HE Transportation and Communications |
Divisions: | Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Economics |
Depositing User: | Roger Vickerman |
Date Deposited: | 07 Apr 2017 08:19 UTC |
Last Modified: | 04 Mar 2024 16:51 UTC |
Resource URI: | https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/61272 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes) |
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