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Factors influencing prices and frequencies in the interurban bus market: Evidence from Europe

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  • Fageda, Xavier
  • Sansano, Sergi

Abstract

We analyze the determinants of prices and frequencies in the interurban bus services (IBS) market. Drawing on data collected from a sample of routes in six large European countries, we find that intramodal competition is based on frequencies while intermodal competition is based on prices. Furthermore, we provide evidence of the regressive nature of the IBS in Europe by showing that routes with low-income endpoints face higher prices. We also find significant price differences between countries, which can be attributed to differences in their respective regulatory systems.

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  • Fageda, Xavier & Sansano, Sergi, 2018. "Factors influencing prices and frequencies in the interurban bus market: Evidence from Europe," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 266-276.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:transa:v:111:y:2018:i:c:p:266-276
    DOI: 10.1016/j.tra.2018.03.022
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    Cited by:

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    2. Gaggero, Alberto A. & Ogrzewalla, Lukas & Bubalo, Branko, 2019. "Pricing of the long-distance bus service in Europe: The case of Flixbus," Economics of Transportation, Elsevier, vol. 19(C), pages 1-1.
    3. Thierry Blayac & Patrice Bougette, 2023. "What can be Expected from Mergers After Deregulation? The Case of the Long-Distance Bus Industry in France," Review of Industrial Organization, Springer;The Industrial Organization Society, vol. 62(1), pages 63-97, February.
    4. Mizuta, Seiichiro, 2020. "Deregulation and competition in Japanese intercity coach industry," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 17-34.
    5. Thierry Blayac & Patrice Bougette & Florent Laroche, 2023. "What Drive HSR' Prices and Frequencies? An Analysis of Intermodal Competition and Multiproduct Incumbent's Strategies in the French Market," Working Papers halshs-03934485, HAL.
    6. Florent Laroche & Ayana Lamatkhanova, 2020. "Effects of open access competition on prices and frequencies on the interurban railway market: evidence from Europe," Working Papers halshs-02930864, HAL.
    7. Florent Laroche & Ayana Lamatkhanova, 2021. "Effects of open access competition on prices and frequencies on the interurban railway market: evidence from Europe," Post-Print halshs-02930864, HAL.

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