Economic growth and transport activity

Abstract

In this paper it is surveyed the impact of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on the passenger and freight activity of land transport. Analytical mathematical relationships between GDP and transport activity for the various European countries are suggested. The effect on transport of high or low GDP per capita is analyzed. It is calculated the degree of coupling/decoupling between economic growth and passenger and freight traffic for each country for the period 1995-2010. The analysis permits to localize in which countries decoupling between transport and GDP has been achieved and under what conditions and circumstances. The suggested modelling permits to calculate values of elasticities of the transport activity in relation to GDP and thus to anticipate ex-ante the effect on transport of any increase or decrease of GDP