Transport economics research and policymaking : summary of discussions and introductory reports presented at the internatinal seminar, Paris, 10-11 May 1999.

This document includes a report outlining the main conclusions of the ECMT Seminar on "Improving the contribution of transport economics research to policymaking", held on 10-11 May 1999. It also includes introductory reports from administrative organisations in seven European countries, Russia, and the USA, and from universities in five European countries. Three main themes were addressed. For the generation and organisation of research, participants favoured public/private partnerships, based on a public body with structures for cooperating with consultants, private-sector researchers, research laboratories, etc. National research programmes were favoured for several reasons, and their right balance with international research programmes was realised to be vital; programmes must be formulated in terms of actual issues facing society. Research organisation was also considered in relation to size of country. The second main theme was the valuation and dissemination of research, for each of which several recommendations were made. There was an emphasis on breaking down the barriers between policy makers and researchers. The third theme was new research directions, with special emphasis on the need to develop new methodological tools and obtain sufficient appropriate statistical data.