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Political Preferences and Transport Infrastructure: Evidence from California’s High-Speed Rail

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  • Pablo D. Fajgelbaum
  • Cecile Gaubert
  • Nicole Gorton
  • Eduardo Morales
  • Edouard Schaal

Abstract

We study how political preferences shaped California’s High-Speed Rail (CHSR), a large transportation project approved by referendum in 2008. Voters’ support responded significantly to the projected economic gains in their tract of residence, as measured by a quantitative model of high-speed rail matched to CHSR plans. Given this response, a revealed-preference approach comparing the proposed network with alternative designs identifies strong planner’s preferences for political support. The optimal politically-blind design would have placed the stations nearer to California’s dense metro areas, where it was harder to sway votes, thus increasing the projected economic gains.

Suggested Citation

  • Pablo D. Fajgelbaum & Cecile Gaubert & Nicole Gorton & Eduardo Morales & Edouard Schaal, 2023. "Political Preferences and Transport Infrastructure: Evidence from California’s High-Speed Rail," NBER Working Papers 31438, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:31438
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    Cited by:

    1. Rodrigo Adão & Arnaud Costinot & Dave Donaldson & John A. Sturm, 2023. "Why is Trade Not Free? A Revealed Preference Approach," NBER Working Papers 31798, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    2. Redding, Stephen J., 2024. "Quantitative urban economics," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 126838, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • O18 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Urban, Rural, Regional, and Transportation Analysis; Housing; Infrastructure
    • R10 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - General
    • R42 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics - - - Government and Private Investment Analysis; Road Maintenance; Transportation Planning

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