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Marginal Productivity of Expanding Highway Capacity

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  • Piyapong Jiwattanakulpaisarn
  • Robert B. Noland
  • Daniel J. Graham

Abstract

This paper examines the contribution of highway capacity expansions towards regional economic development in the US. Using data for the forty-eight contiguous US states from 1984 to 2005, the dynamic production function estimates reveal that increases in overall highway capacity in states can have a positive, long-lasting effect on private sector output. However, both short-run and long-run output elasticities of highways are small. The data suggests further investments in highway infrastructure may not produce sizable economic returns. The estimates of the long-term productivity benefits of capacity expansion appear to be even smaller for lane-mile additions of lower functional road categories. © 2012 LSE and the University of Bath

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  • Piyapong Jiwattanakulpaisarn & Robert B. Noland & Daniel J. Graham, 2012. "Marginal Productivity of Expanding Highway Capacity," Journal of Transport Economics and Policy, University of Bath, vol. 46(3), pages 333-347, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:tpe:jtecpo:v:46:y:2012:i:3:p:333-347
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    3. Taotao Deng & Shuai Shao & Lili Yang & Xueliang Zhang, 2014. "Has the transport-led economic growth effect reached a peak in China? A panel threshold regression approach," Transportation, Springer, vol. 41(3), pages 567-587, May.
    4. Nisha S. Simon & P. Natarajan, 2017. "Nonlinearity between Infrastructure Inequality and Growth," Review of Market Integration, India Development Foundation, vol. 9(1-2), pages 66-82, April.
    5. Qi, Guanqiu & Shi, Wenming & Lin, Kun-Chin & Yuen, Kum Fai & Xiao, Yi, 2020. "Spatial spillover effects of logistics infrastructure on regional development: Evidence from China," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 96-114.
    6. Alexander Eck & Joachim Ragnitz & Simone Scharfe & Christian Thater & Bernhard Wieland, 2015. "Public Investments in Infrastructure: Development, Causal Factors and Growth Effects," ifo Dresden Studien, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, number 72, July.
    7. Matthias Sweet, 2014. "Traffic Congestion’s Economic Impacts: Evidence from US Metropolitan Regions," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 51(10), pages 2088-2110, August.
    8. Zolnik, Edmund J., 2018. "Effects of additional capacity on vehicle kilometers of travel in the U.S.: Evidence from National Household Travel Surveys," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 1-9.
    9. Michael Iacono & David Levinson, 2012. "Rural Highway Expansion and Economic Development: Impacts on Private Earnings and Employment," Working Papers 000101, University of Minnesota: Nexus Research Group.
    10. Elburz, Zeynep & Nijkamp, Peter & Pels, Eric, 2017. "Public infrastructure and regional growth: Lessons from meta-analysis," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 1-8.
    11. Elena Cigu & Daniela Tatiana Agheorghiesei & Anca Florentina Gavriluță (Vatamanu) & Elena Toader, 2018. "Transport Infrastructure Development, Public Performance and Long-Run Economic Growth: A Case Study for the Eu-28 Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-22, December.
    12. Barzin, Samira & D'Costa, Sabine & Graham, Daniel J., 2018. "A pseudo – panel approach to estimating dynamic effects of road infrastructure on firm performance in a developing country context," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 20-34.
    13. Li, Jianling & Whitaker, Elizabeth, 2018. "The impact of governmental highway investments on local economic outcome in the post-highway era," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 410-420.
    14. Leibowicz, Benjamin D., 2020. "Urban land use and transportation planning for climate change mitigation: A theoretical framework," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 284(2), pages 604-616.
    15. Paskynel Jacques-Arvisais & Simon Lapointe, 2022. "The Impact of Transport Infrastructure on Productivity in Canada," CSLS Research Reports 2022-02, Centre for the Study of Living Standards.
    16. Holmgren, Johan & Merkel, Axel, 2017. "Much ado about nothing? – A meta-analysis of the relationship between infrastructure and economic growth," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 13-26.

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