Abstract The welfare effects of two policies that could promote intermodal services, investment grants for terminal operators and the internalisation of external cost are analysed. For this purpose, a market equilibrium model has been developed, covering the dynamic demand and supply interactions of logistics and transport markets. The emergence or closure of terminals is modelled assuming free market entry and exit, and competition by product differentiation. In a first step, analytical results are presented showing that investment grants for terminal operators could have a negative effect on market efficiency due to a massive entry on the market for terminals. In a second step, a hierarchical choice model mapping the decisions of shippers/forwarders in detail is combined with the market equilibrium model. The combined simulation model is applied to German terminals, and different policy packages are analysed. It can be seen that in markets with high volume, the welfare maximizing policy strategy is the internalisation of external cost only. However, in less developed markets, a combination of both, direct subsidies in form of investment grants and internalisation of external cost, could be indicated. Finally, the implications of the results derived from the model and the empirical analysis of transport policy are identified.
Highlights ► Introduction to dynamic demand and supply interactions. ► Long-term equilibrium in transport and logistics markets. ► Formulation of the long-term equilibrium into an optimisation problem. ► Extension of the optimisation problem into a hierarchical structure. ► Proof of the model in order to maximise welfare. ► Case study for the application of the model with two transport policies.
Assessment of policy strategies to develop intermodal services: The case of inland terminals in Germany
Transport Policy ; 24 ; 168-178
2012-01-01
11 pages
Aufsatz (Zeitschrift)
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch