Cyclical changes in transport administration policy are discussed. Short-term cycles of 10-15 years are considered, with the most recent on the creation and proper functioning of the 'internal market'. The main preoccupation of the public sector is safety of operation and protection against unfair competition. It is considered that the threat of competition promotes economic efficiency. Port privatisation and liberalisation is considered to be successful in the UK in some studies but not in others. In Greece, liberalisation of the ports doubled the number of non-commercial shipping lines. Maritime competition has concentrated on the main lines, but proved less satisfactory for island or non-commercial services. In the air transport sector, liberalisation resuted in reduced air fares, and increased services on commercial routes but poorer services on non-commercial routes. Many air transport operators disappeared from the market or merged with others and many thousands of jobs were lost. Issues on which action has not taken place include the continuous push for integration, the continuous push for common standards, solving institutional / legal issues, considering the user, and consideration of the externalities. The emerging new cycle of transport policies include: securing transport services to underprivileged and less accessible regions and sectors of the population; formulating and setting rules and agreed practices; implementing extensive and continuous monitoring systems; and ensuring efficient and fair implementation of the 'user pays' and where appropriate the 'user subsidises' principle. For the covering abstract for this conference see ITRD E128114.
Samenvatting