MSB204 Transport modelling and regional development

Contents and structure

The course consists of three parts. The first part is based on the four-step travel demand model, represented by trip generation, trip distribution, mode choice, and trip assignment. The focus is in particular on the trip distribution perspective, but the course is in addition addressing land use-transport interaction modelling (LUTI). The second part of the course is focussing on both modelling issues and general problems related to urban and regional growth. Operational spatial computable general equilibrium (SGE) models and other spatial general equilibrium models are introduced and used to discuss urban and regional growth and the possibility of rural depopulation. The course also addresses causality issues and the interaction between location decisions of people and firms in a process of regional growth. In addition, focus is on how local development reflects the spatial distribution of human, creative, capital, the presence of local amenities, innovation aspects, and the potential of urban life and city advantages in consumption. Finally, the third part of the course combines basic elements of the two preceding parts to discuss how changes in the terms of transportation affect regional and urban development. Both the provision of public transport services, road pricing, and investments in transport infrastructure are demonstrated to affect the allocation of capital and labour across regions. Hence, they represent important policy instruments for urban and regional development, involving both efficiency and equity aspects. Investments in transport infrastructure may for instance be in the form of high-speed rail or in connecting regions by the construction of tunnels and/or bridges. The course will make extensive use of case studies from Norway.

Learning Outcome

Knowledge 

Upon completion, the students:

• have specialized insight into the four-step travel demand model and LUTI models. 
• have specialized insight into alternative spatial general equilibrium models.
• have advanced knowledge of the interaction between firms and households in a process of urban and regional economic development.
• have advanced knowledge to how local development is affected by the presence of local amenities, innovation aspects, and the potential of urban life and city advantages in consumption.
• have specialized insight to how changes in the terms of transportation affect regional and urban development

Skills 

• can interpret, analyze and deal critically with results based on different components of a four-step travel demand model and a LUTI model.
• can specify, explain, formulate and interpret the basic elements of a spatial general equilibrium model.
• can deal critically with various theories of what is determining regional and urban growth and rural depopulation.
• can analyze how the provision of public transport services, road pricing, and investments in transport infrastructure affect the allocation of capital and labour across regions.
• can formulate an appropriate modelling framework for making reliable predictions on how the urban and regional development is affected by investments in high-speed rail or the construction of tunnels and/or bridges in the road transportation network.

General competence

Upon completion of the course, students:

• can apply his/her knowledge to organize and clarify a discussion of transportation issues into different steps and purposes.
• can apply his/her knowledge to analyze how a central place system and the land use pattern reflect the terms of transportation.
• can contribute to new thinking and innovations on how the terms of transportation can be used as policy instruments to perform a balanced regional and urban development.
• can communicate both on a theoretical and on a practical level on issues related to the economic development in a region or an urban area. 

Entry requirements

None

Recommended previous knowledge

Completed course in Applied Urban and Regional Economics

Teaching methods

Traditional lectures will be complemented by seminars where different case studies from Norway are discussed. Readings of articles will also be assigned and discussed in seminars.

Compulsory learning activities

A written assignment where course literature is applied to discuss a relevant problem based on data from a Norwegian region.

Assessment

Written examination, 5 hours (100% of the final assessment).

Grading scale is A-F where F is fail.

Examination support material

A standard, non-programmable calculator.

More about examination support material