Established theory on the relationship between transport related costs and economic development suggests that peripheral regions are at a competitive disadvantage due to the higher transport costs they incur in accessing markets. However various case studies appear to suggest that this supposed simplistic relationship may not be universally applicable. Wider distance based costs together with quality of service considerations may contribute to such disadvantage. In addition perceptions of accessibility among potential inward investors, suppliers and customers may not accord with objectively measured indicators. This paper reports the findings of surveys among manufacturing firms in Scotland, firms in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland of the transport conditions faced in the pursuit of their business and contrasts differences between these peripheral areas with a similar survey also undertaken by the Transport Research Group in the Ruhr Gebiet of Germany. The findings are used to inform a discussion of the efficacy of current EC strategies and policies designed to address peripherality based problems. (A)
Samenvatting