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The Weakest Link: A Model of the Decline of Surface Transportation Networks

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Author Info
Feng Xie
David Levinson () (Nexus (Networks, Economics, and Urban Systems) Research Group, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Minnesota)

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Abstract

This study explores the economic mechanisms behind the decline of a surface transportation network, based on the assumption that the decline phase is a spontaneous process driven by decentralized decisions of individual travelers and privatized links. A simulation model is developed with a degeneration process by which the weakest link is removed iteratively from the network. Experiments reveal how the economic efficiency of a network evolves during the degeneration process and suggest an 'optimal' degenerated network could be derived during the decline phase in terms of maximizing total social welfare. Keywords: decline, transportation network, degeneration, welfare, accessibility

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File URL: http://nexus.umn.edu/Papers/WeakestLink.pdf
File Format: application/pdf
File Function: First version, 2007
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Publisher Info
Paper provided by University of Minnesota: Nexus Research Group in its series Working Papers with number 200803.

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Date of creation: 2007
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Publication status: Published in Transportation Research part E 44 100-113, doi:10.1016/j.tre.2006.09.001
Handle: RePEc:nex:wpaper:weakestlink

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Postal: Dept. of Civil Engineering, 500 Pillsbury Drive SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455
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Related research
Keywords: Networks; Transportation; Structure; Entropy; Pattern; Continuity;

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Find related papers by JEL classification:
R40 - Urban, Rural, and Regional Economics - - Transportation Systems - - - General
R42 - Urban, Rural, and Regional Economics - - Transportation Systems - - - Government and Private Investment Analysis
R48 - Urban, Rural, and Regional Economics - - Transportation Systems - - - Government Pricing; Regulatory Policies
D10 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - General
D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search, Learning, and Information
D85 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Network Formation
O33 - Economic Development, Technological Change, and Growth - - Technological Change - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes

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References listed on IDEAS
Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.:
  1. David Levinson, 2003. "Perspectives on Efficiency in Transportation," Working Papers 200303, University of Minnesota: Nexus Research Group. [Downloadable!]
  2. David Levinson & Bhanu Yerra, 2006. "Self Organization of Surface Transportation Networks," Working Papers 200603, University of Minnesota: Nexus Research Group. [Downloadable!]
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Cited by:
(explanations, Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.)

  1. Feng Xie & David Levinson, 2009. "Jurisdictional Control and Network Growth," Networks and Spatial Economics, Springer, vol. 9(3), pages 459-483, September. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  2. David Levinson, 2007. "Density and Dispersion: The Co-Development of Land use and Rail in London," Working Papers 200801, University of Minnesota: Nexus Research Group. [Downloadable!]
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