文档介绍：Regional Science and Urban Economics 28 (1998) 163–197
Transport externalities and optimal pricing and supply
decisions in urban transportation: a simulation analysis
for Belgium
Bruno De Borger* , Sandra Wouters
University of Antwerp, UFSIA-SESO, Prinsstraat 13, B-2000 Antwerp, Belgium
Received 22 October 1996; accepted 10 April 1997
Abstract
In this paper we study the joint optimisation of transport prices and supply decisions of
urban transport services, taking into account all relevant external effects. First a simple
theoretical model is developed that clearly identifies the different channels through which
demand and supply factors affect the marginal social costs of transport services. Optimal
pricing and supply rules are derived, both in the presence and in the absence of budgetary
constraints. A detailed numerical simulation analysis for Belgian urban areas then illustrates
the empirical implications of the optimality rules. We calculate optimal prices for private
and public transport in peak and off-peak periods under various assumptions, we consider
optimal public transport supply of vehicle-kilometres in both periods as well as optimal fleet
size, and we look at the optimal supply of road infrastructure. We carefully interpret the
implications of optimal pricing and supply decisions for a number of operational
characteristics of the public transit system, such as occupancy rates, budgetary es,
and productivity. 1998 Elsevier Science .
Keywords: Optimal pricing; Public transport supply; Externalities
JEL classification: R41; H23
1. Introduction
The literature has produced a large number of papers dealing with optimal
pricing and service provision on the market for urban transportation. Seminal
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0166-0462/98/$ 1998 Elsevier Science . All rights reserved.
PII S0166-0462(97)00018-5
164 B. De Borger, S. Wouters / Regional Science and U