Restructuring public transit systems: Evidence on cost properties from medium and large-sized companies

Carlo Cambini; Massimiliano Piacenza; Davide Vannoni

doi:10.1007/s11151-007-9153-9

Restructuring public transit systems: Evidence on cost properties from medium and large-sized companies

Carlo Cambini
, Massimiliano Piacenza
, Davide Vannoni

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

This paper analyses the cost structure of a sample of local public transport companies operating in medium and large urban centres in Italy in order to identify the proper network configuration for the service. Technological characteristics of public transit systems are analysed by estimating both variable and total cost function models. The evidence shows the presence of short-run and long-run economies of scale, as well as of economies of network density. This suggests that a suitable network design should at least include a large urban centre, while a regulatory policy aimed at fragmenting the served area would imply an efficiency loss.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	183-203
Number of pages	21
Journal	Review of Industrial Organization
Volume	31
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s11151-007-9153-9
Publication status	Published - Nov 2007
Externally published	Yes

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities

Keywords

Network configuration
Public transit systems
Regulation
Scale and density economies
Variable and total cost function

Access to Document

10.1007/s11151-007-9153-9

Cite this

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title = "Restructuring public transit systems: Evidence on cost properties from medium and large-sized companies",

abstract = "This paper analyses the cost structure of a sample of local public transport companies operating in medium and large urban centres in Italy in order to identify the proper network configuration for the service. Technological characteristics of public transit systems are analysed by estimating both variable and total cost function models. The evidence shows the presence of short-run and long-run economies of scale, as well as of economies of network density. This suggests that a suitable network design should at least include a large urban centre, while a regulatory policy aimed at fragmenting the served area would imply an efficiency loss.",

keywords = "Network configuration, Public transit systems, Regulation, Scale and density economies, Variable and total cost function",

author = "Carlo Cambini and Massimiliano Piacenza and Davide Vannoni",

note = "Funding Information: ern University, Boston, April 7–9, 2006, the 33rd Annual Conference of the European Association for Research in Industrial Economics (EARIE), University of Amsterdam, Faculty of Economics and Econometrics, August 25–27, 2006, and the 53rd North American Regional Science Conference (NARSC 2006), McMaster University, Toronto, November 16–18, 2006, where earlier versions of this paper were presented. The financial support of HERMES and MIUR (PRIN 2004) is gratefully acknowledged.",

year = "2007",

month = nov,

doi = "10.1007/s11151-007-9153-9",

language = "English",

volume = "31",

pages = "183--203",

journal = "Review of Industrial Organization",

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T1 - Restructuring public transit systems

T2 - Evidence on cost properties from medium and large-sized companies

AU - Cambini, Carlo

AU - Piacenza, Massimiliano

AU - Vannoni, Davide

N1 - Funding Information: ern University, Boston, April 7–9, 2006, the 33rd Annual Conference of the European Association for Research in Industrial Economics (EARIE), University of Amsterdam, Faculty of Economics and Econometrics, August 25–27, 2006, and the 53rd North American Regional Science Conference (NARSC 2006), McMaster University, Toronto, November 16–18, 2006, where earlier versions of this paper were presented. The financial support of HERMES and MIUR (PRIN 2004) is gratefully acknowledged.

PY - 2007/11

Y1 - 2007/11

N2 - This paper analyses the cost structure of a sample of local public transport companies operating in medium and large urban centres in Italy in order to identify the proper network configuration for the service. Technological characteristics of public transit systems are analysed by estimating both variable and total cost function models. The evidence shows the presence of short-run and long-run economies of scale, as well as of economies of network density. This suggests that a suitable network design should at least include a large urban centre, while a regulatory policy aimed at fragmenting the served area would imply an efficiency loss.

AB - This paper analyses the cost structure of a sample of local public transport companies operating in medium and large urban centres in Italy in order to identify the proper network configuration for the service. Technological characteristics of public transit systems are analysed by estimating both variable and total cost function models. The evidence shows the presence of short-run and long-run economies of scale, as well as of economies of network density. This suggests that a suitable network design should at least include a large urban centre, while a regulatory policy aimed at fragmenting the served area would imply an efficiency loss.

KW - Network configuration

KW - Public transit systems

KW - Regulation

KW - Scale and density economies

KW - Variable and total cost function

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/41149131892

U2 - 10.1007/s11151-007-9153-9

DO - 10.1007/s11151-007-9153-9

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SN - 0889-938X

VL - 31

SP - 183

EP - 203

JO - Review of Industrial Organization

JF - Review of Industrial Organization

IS - 3

ER -

Restructuring public transit systems: Evidence on cost properties from medium and large-sized companies

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

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