110017 - TRANSPORT ECONOMICS

Subject type: Mandatory

Coordinator: Jesus Ezequiel Martínez Marín

Trimester: First term

Credits: 6

• English

The main objective in the learning of the subject is the acquisition by the student of the basic general knowledge that allow him to understand the structure, organization and operation of the transport system, in all the territorial fields.

This subject has methodological and digital resources to make possible its continuity in non-contact mode in the case of being necessary for reasons related to the Covid-19. In this way, the achievement of the same knowledge and skills that are specified in this teaching plan will be ensured.

The TecnoCampus will make available to teachers and students the digital tools needed to carry out the course, as well as guides and recommendations that facilitate adaptation to the non-contact mode.

Identify basic economic concepts, as well as the microeconomic and macroeconomic functioning of markets
Select and use quantitative instruments for decision making and contrasting economic assumptions in the transport sector.

From a methodological point of view, (1) Theoretical master classes will be combined with practical examples. (2) Face-to-face practical classes for solving exercises (3) Reading academic articles and journals specializing in transport economics

SUBJECT 1. General concepts on transport, logistics and economy

Key elements of the transport economy

Communications and Technical Change

Economics of technological change in the supply chain

SUBJECT 2. The demand of transport

Individual vs. aggregate demand

Load vs passengers 

Urban and interurban demand

Elasticity of demand derived from transport

SUBJECT 3. The direct costs of the transport

Transport offer

Producer costs, fixed and variable

Cost ratio: joint, common and constant costs

User costs

SUBJECT 4. External costs of the transport

Externalities

Evaluation of externalities

Transport and environment

Congestion

Energy use

SUBJECT 5. The price of the transport

Infrastructures and services

Average and marginal price

Price discrimination, price differentiation and yield management

The problem of peak periods

 SUBJECT 6. Investments of transport

The importance of transport infrastructure

Commercial and social approaches to investment

Cost and benefit analysis

CBA and network effects

SUBJECT 7. Economy and logistics of the transport

Transport, storage and inventory costs

Transport and intermodality

The decision of the mode of transport

SUBJECT 8. Transport and public policies

Transport and development

Regulation and deregulation, privatization

Taxation and subsidies

Urban mobility

Public service obligations

Master class: Expository class sessions based on the teacher's explanation attended by all students enrolled in the subject.

Solving exercises and problems: Activity dedicated to the resolution of practical exercises from the data provided by the teacher.  

Case study: Dynamics that starts from the study of a case, which serves to contextualize the student in a specific situation. Students will need to bring news to discuss in class.

Presentations: Students will be required to submit final work.

15% delivery of works, resolution of exercises.

10% case studies- news

20% delivery of final work and respective presentation

5% partial exam

50% final exam

The exam will contain theoretical and practical questions that can be in the format of open-ended questions, exercises to develop and multiple choice, etc. You will have to get a 5 out of 10 in the final exam to be able to average with the mark of the continuous assessment. In the resit exam you will only be able to take the final test that will calculate 50% of the final grade, as the mark of the continuous assessment will be kept (Job Submission, Partial Examination and Final Job Submission). Continuous assessment cannot be recovered.

DE RUS, G, CAMPOS, J. AND NOMBELA, G. (2003): Transport Economics. Ed. Antoni Bosch editor; Barcelona.

Prentice, BE and Prokop, D. (2015). Concepts of transportation economics. World Scientific Publishing Co Inc.

Button, K. (2010). Transport economics. Edward Elgar Publishing.

Varian, H. R (2014). Intermediate Microeconomics: A Modern Approach: Ninth International Student Edition. WW Norton & Company.