Research Project
Economic Benefits of Productivity Increases through Truck-to-Rail Mode Shift in Freight Transport
This study’s goal is to develop an analytical framework to apply the CGE model in the analysis of freight mode shifts through the simulations of plausible impacts of such change. The framework developed in this study can also be applied to the analysis of the effects of fuel price increase or policy measures such as carbon tax
- Principal Investigator
- Kawamura, Kazuya
- Research Area(s)
- Data Development
- Freight
- Funding Source
- National University Rail Center (NURail)
Abstract
The study of economic benefits of improving (or not improving) the efficiency of freight movement has been recognized as a critical research topic by decision makers and researchers alike. While many factors can impact freight efficiency, there are two main obstacles: 1) The lack of reliable tools to simulate how efficiency changes affect the flow of goods. 2) The absence of the framework to translate the output into an economic impact measure. This study applies a Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model for the Chicago region to analyze the impacts of productivity increase in the trucking sector. The CGE model used in this study is derived from the Chicago-CGE model developed in an earlier effort at the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Urban Transportation Center (UTC). Download the "Economic Benefits of Productivity Increases through Truck-to-Rail Mode Shift in Freight Transport" report.